Geeta Phogat: Breaking Barriers, Inspiring Millions

Geeta Phogat was born on December 15, 1988, in Balali village in rural northwestern India’s state of Haryana, and she became synonymous with shattering cliches and creating avenues for female wrestlers. Her journey has been characterized by extreme tenacity as well as motivation drawn from loved ones, irrespective of which domain you talk about in sports.

Geeta embarked on a journey that went against societal norms, which discouraged girls from engaging in sports including wrestling, which is physically demanding. But in him was a strong conviction that his daughters had what it takes to succeed, as he was a wrestler before opting out for various reasons. It was his dream for both of them to become champions in this game, contrary to societal demands.

Mahavir didn’t have enough money to pay for his daughter’s training, so he turned their yard into an akhada (the ring), where he started training his daughters Geeta and her sisters Babita Kumari, Ritu Phogat, and Sangita Phogat. The neighborhood was at first suspicious about this unusual way of raising children, but in the long run, it served as a rock for their remarkable sporting journey.

There was massive discipline and sacrifice during Geeta’s initial wrestling years, which were characterized by limited resources and social disapproval, hence the rigid training. These girls trained next to boys, and sometimes they were ridiculed together with negative attitudes yet they never lost their commitment. It was such a difficult time for them because all day long the only thing they did was exercise intensely till late in the evening when they would dream about becoming world champions in this game.

Their devotion soon became financially profitable and soon, Geeta and her sisters were overpowering local wrestling contests. Their ability was seen by national trainers and this saw them join the renowned Delhi Chhatrasal Stadium in 2002 to take their skills a notch higher. This event marked a turning point in their careers where they were presented with various sophisticated techniques and higher-level contests.

Geeta began enjoying success in wrestling at the national level in her early teens. She displayed superb wrestling skills on a trio of occasions when she secured three medals in the Asian Cadet Championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005 years. The initial signs of this success were also confirmed later among the youth. One time in 2009, she won a gold medal in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships, which was a great achievement in her life.

In 2010, Geeta experienced a turning point. She defeated her opponent in the 55kg freestyle wrestling category at the Delhi Commonwealth Games winning India’s first-ever female wrestling gold. This historic victory stood out as it was also much more than just about India being proud; it highlighted the idea behind female sportsmanship in essence showing how far women have gone since then in achieving equality through playing games.

Geeta did not stop here. She later qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London hence joining the company of the first Indian female wrestler ever. Without winning anything, her presence alone was proof enough of how much effort she had put into her training regime which was going very well.

Geeta's successes are not confined to wrestling alone. Geeta, along with her sisters, motivated a young woman in the country to take up wrestling. Their tale touched the hearts of many, forcing people to see things differently and increasing women’s involvement in games.

Because of the contributions made in Indian wrestling, Geeta was given the Arjuna Award in 2012—an honor bestowed only upon those who excel in their respective sports. In addition, she has gone ahead to inspire many people outside of sports, especially young females whose goals require breaking societal norms (in order) to follow their hearts.

Geeta's story is not only about wrestling conquests but it's about defeating predictions by doing something thought difficult. It is proof of how powerful a supportive family can be, how one can be dedicated without wavering in their pursuit, and how courageous someone has to be to go against the norm. Geeta Phogat is currently an icon within the nation and is looked up to by many as well as seen as a representative of female empowerment in India.

* Her life after wrestling, including coaching or entrepreneurial ventures
* Her personal life and marriage
* Her role in promoting wrestling among girls in India
* Awards and recognitions beyond the Arjuna Award