Wrestling is one of the most loved sports in India and it is becoming more and more popular. India’s highest-grossing film, Dangal, tells the story of the famous Phogat family of wrestlers, whose patriarch, Mahavir Singh Phogat, goes against social norms and trains his daughters of becoming a wrestler.
Indian female wrestlers are now even outperforming men at the international level. Women continued to view wrestling as a sport, unafraid of societal stereotypes and limitations. 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. On that note, we bring you a list of top 10 famous Indian female wrestlers.
Related: Top 10 famous Indian wrestlers
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 used to fight when they were children. Their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler, saw their potential and trained them in the art of pehlwani, or Indian wrestling. At that time, girls were not allowed to wrestle and those who did compete proved no match for Geeta’s abilities. She had to struggle with boys who were older and older than her to get ahead. However, Geeta Phogat overcame all odds to reach the 2010 Commonwealth Games and won India’s first gold medal in wrestling at the tournament.
2. Phogate grapes
Image source: Twitter
Vinesh Phogat is an Indian wrestler from the famous Phogat wrestling family. A native of Haryana, Vinesh began wrestling at an early age under the tutelage of Mahavir Singh Phogat, her uncle. Vinesh was one of the most promising female wrestlers in India and was poised to win a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics but was eliminated in the quarter-finals due to a severe knee injury. However, Vinesh is on the rise again and is the first Indian woman wrestler to win gold medals in both the Commonwealth and Asian tournaments.
3. Anshu Malik
Image source: The Indian Express
Anshu Malik is a young Indian wrestler from Haryana who is considered one of the best wrestlers in the country today. At just 21 years old, Anshu Malik has won many awards worldwide for his fierce wrestling skills. She became the first Indian woman to win a silver medal at a World Championship at the 2021 Oslo World Wrestling Championships.
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4. Alka Tomar
Image source: Wrestling TV
Alka Tomar is one of India’s most famous wrestlers and competed at the same time as Geeta Phogat. Alka was born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh and represented India at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, winning bronze and gold medals in these events respectively. . She is one of the pioneers of Indian women’s wrestling and the first Indian wrestler to win a world championship medal. Alka retired in 2011 to work as a wrestling coach.
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5. Babita Kumari
Image source: Olympic.com
Babita Kumari is another famous female wrestler from India and a member of the Phogat family. She along with her sister Geeta were among the first Indian women to represent and win at the international level. Babita won the gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Olympics in the 55 kg weight category. Babita also entered politics in 2019 by joining the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and is known for her outspoken, right-wing views.
6. Nisha Dahiya
Image source: Wrestling TV
Nisha Dahiya is a budding Indian wrestler and is quickly becoming the most promising female wrestler of the future. Nisha Dahiya, a young athlete from Haryana, won a bronze medal at the 2021 World U23 Championship. She was declared by many famous wrestlers to be the future of women’s wrestling.
7. Ritu Phogat
Image source: ESPN
Ritu Phogat is the younger sister of Geeta and Babita Phogat and shows great potential in wrestling. Her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, asserted that she was the best pure wrestler in the family. However, it seems like wrestling is not in Ritu’s destiny. Ritu transitioned to mixed martial arts and competed in ONE Championship, where she used her skilled wrestling skills to dominate her opponents on the ground.
8. Divya Kakran
Image source: Bridge
Divya Kakran is an Indian wrestler from the state of Uttar Pradesh. She competed in the 68 kg weight class and won many national and international medals in wrestling. Divya started wrestling at the age of eight, inspired by her father and brother. She overcame her family’s poor financial conditions 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 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
9. Geetika Jakhar
Image source: Alchetron
Geetika Jakhar is another famous wrestler from Haryana and a pioneer in women’s wrestling in India. Geetika comes from a sports family and turned to wrestling as a teenager. She was one of India’s youngest and earliest female wrestlers and eventually became a legend of the sport. Geetika won silver medals at the 2006 Doha Asian Games and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
10. Sakshi Malik
Image source: India Today
Sakshi Malik created history in 2016 when she won a bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. Sakshi became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling. Also a native of Haryana, Sakhi Malik started wrestling at the age of 12 and competed in the same weight class as Geeta Phogat. Sakshi went to the 2016 Olympics in place of injured Geeta and proved her naysayers wrong. Sakshi Malik is currently working for Indian Railways and has won a gold medal at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Malik is all set to bring home the Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games.
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ARE NOT |
wrestler |
Top achievements |
|
first |
Geeta Phogat |
Gold Medal – New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games |
|
2 |
Phogat Vinesh |
Gold – Jakarta Asian Games 2018 Gold – Commonwealth Games (2014 Glasgow, 2018 Gold Coast, 2022 Birmingham) |
|
3 |
Anshu Malik |
Silver – 2021 Oslo World Wrestling Championships |
|
4 |
Alka Tomar |
Gold – New Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games 2010 |
|
5 |
Babita Kumari |
Gold Medal – Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games |
|
6 |
Nisha Dahiya |
Bronze – U23 World Championship Belgrade 2021 |
|
7 |
Ritu Phogat |
Gold – 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships |
|
8 |
Divya Kakran |
Bronze – Jakarta Asian Games 2018 Bronze – Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games |
|
9 |
Geetika Jakhar |
Silver – Doha 2006 Asian Games Silver – Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games |
|
ten |
Sakshi Malik |
Bronze – Rio Olympics 2016 Gold – Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games |
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Source: pagasa.edu.vn