Wrestling is one of the most loved sports in India and is growing in popularity day by day. India’s highest-grossing film, Dangal, tells the story of famous wrestler Phogat family, whose patriarch, Mahavir Singh Phogat, went against social norms and trained his daughters to become become a wrestler.
Indian female wrestlers have even surpassed men internationally. Women continue to participate in wrestling as a sport, unafraid of the stereotypes and limitations of society. The government is also actively encouraging girls to participate in sports and it is only a matter of time before India’s talented female wrestlers win Olympic gold medals. In this regard, we bring you the list of top 10 famous female wrestlers in India.
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Contents
1. Geeta Phogat
Image source: Twitter
Geeta Phogat is one of India’s greatest female wrestlers and has ushered in a new era for women’s wrestling. Phogat and his sister Babita had a childhood fight. Their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, himself a former wrestler, saw their potential and trained them in the art of pehlwani, or Indian wrestling. In those days, girls were not allowed to wrestle and those proved to be unsuitable for Geeta’s abilities. She struggled with boys bigger than her to get the lead. However, Geeta Phogat overcame all odds to make it to the 2010 Commonwealth Games and won India’s first wrestling gold medal at the tournament.
2. Vinesh Phogat
Image source: Twitter
Vinesh Phogat is an Indian wrestler from the famous Phogat wrestling family. A native of Haryana, Vinesh started wrestling at an early age under the guidance of Mahavir Singh Phogat, her uncle. Vinesh is one of the most promising female wrestlers in India and won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but was eliminated in the quarterfinals due to a serious knee injury. However, Vinesh is resurgent and is the first Indian female wrestler to win a gold medal at both the Commonwealth and Asian Games.
3. Anshu Malik
Image source: The Indian Express
Anshu Malik is a young Indian wrestler from Haryana who is hailed as one of the best wrestlers currently in the country. At just 21 years old, Anshu Malik has won many laurels around the world thanks to his fierce wrestling skills. At the 2021 World Wrestling Championships in Oslo, she became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal at the World Championships.
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4. Alka Tomar
Image source: Pretend TV
Alka Tomar is one of the most famous Indian wrestlers and competed at the same time as Geeta Phogat. Alka was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, and represented India at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, winning bronze and gold, respectively. She was one of the pioneers of Indian women’s wrestling and was the first Indian wrestler to win a medal at a world championship. Alka retired in 2011 and worked as a wrestling coach.
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5. Babita Kumari
Image source: Olympics.com
Babita Kumari is another famous wrestler from India and a member of the Phogat family. She, along with her sister Geeta, was one of the first Indian women to represent and win at the international level. Babita won a gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Olympics in the weight class up to 55 kg. Babita also entered politics in 2019 by joining the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and known for his outspoken, right-wing views.
6. Niš dahi
Image source: Pretend TV
Nisha Dahiya is a young Indian wrestler who is quickly becoming the most promising future wrestler. Nisha Dahiya, a young athlete from Haryana, won a bronze medal at the 2021 World U23 Championship. Many famous wrestlers have declared her as the future of women’s wrestling.
7. Ritu Phogat
Image source: GAMES
Ritu Phogat is the younger sister of Geeta and Babita Phogat and has shown great potential in wrestling. Her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, considers her the best pure wrestler in the family. But it seems that wrestling is not in Ritu’s fate. Ritu turned to mixed martial arts and competed in ONE Championship, where she used her prolific wrestling skills to overwhelm opponents on the ground.
8. Divya Kakran
Image source: Most
Divya Kakran is an Indian wrestler from the state of Uttar Pradesh. He competes in the weight category up to 68 kg and has won several national and international medals in wrestling. Divya started wrestling at the age of 8, inspired by her father and brother. She overcame her family’s difficult financial situation and became a successful wrestler, even defeating Geeta Phogat in the Bharat Kesari wrestling event. Divya won bronze medals at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
9. Geetika Jakhar
Image source: Alchetron
Geetika Jakhar is another famous wrestler from Haryana and a pioneer in female wrestling in India. Geetika comes from a family of athletes, and he turned to wrestling as a teenager. She is one of India’s youngest and earliest wrestlers and over time has become a legend of the sport. Geetika won silver medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games.
10. Sakshi Malik
Image source: India today
Sakshi Malik made history in 2016 when he won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. Sakshi became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling. Also from Haryana, Sakhi Malik started wrestling at the age of 12 and competed in the same weight category as Geeta Phogat. Sakshi came to the 2016 Olympics in place of the injured Geeta and proved the skeptics wrong. Sakshi Malik currently works for Indian Railways and has won a gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Malik is poised to take home an Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
Are not | wrestler | A great achievement |
first | Geeta Phogat | Gold Medal – Commonwealth Games New Delhi 2010 |
2 | Vinesh Phogat | Gold – Asian Games in Jakarta 2018 Gold – Commonwealth Games (2014 Glasgow, 2018 Gold Coast, 2022 Birmingham) |
3 | Anshu Malik | Silver – World Wrestling Championship in Oslo 2021 |
4 | Alka Tomar | Gold – 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games 2010 |
5 | Babita Kumari | Gold Medal – Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014 |
6 | Niš dahi | Bronze – Under-23 World Championship in Belgrade 2021 |
7 | Rita Phogat | Gold – Commonwealth Wrestling Championship 2016 |
8 | Divya Kakran | Bronze medal – Asian Games in Jakarta 2018 Bronze – Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 |
9 | Geetika Jakhar | Silver – Asian Games in Doha 2006 Silver – Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 |
ten | Sakshi Malik | Bronze Medal – Olympic Games Rio 2016 Gold – Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games |
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Categories: Trends
Source: vcmp.edu.vn