Geeta Phogat – The Wrestling Journey from Akhada to CWG Gold of India’s Original Dangal Girl

Today you will read the life journey and biography of Geeta Phogat, a freestyle wrestler and India’s Original Dangal Girl.

Reading motivational success stories of successful Indian women Entrepreneurs stimulates motivational enzymes within us and we all wish to emulate them on the path of success.

Exactly with this aim, SugerMint is presenting you series of success stories of startups, Women Entrepreneurs, Indian Social Entrepreneurs, and Indian Entrepreneurs who have carved niche in their own way and have become icons.

Following above, today you will read the success story of Geeta Phogat, a freestyle wrestler.

Who is Geeta Phogat?

Geeta Phogat is a freestyle wrestler. In 2010 Commonwealth Games she won India’s first gold medal in wrestling. For Olympic Summer she is the first Indian female wrestler who qualified.

Personal life & family

Geeta was born on 15^th December 1988 in Balali village of Charkhi Dadri, dist., Haryana. His father Mahavir Sibgh Phogat is her coach.

Mahavir Singh is a former wrestler and recipient of Dronacharya Award. Her sister Babita Kumari & cousin Vinesh Phogat are gold medallist in Commonwealth Games.

They won their medals in 2014 Commonwealth Games. Her younger sister Ritu Phogat is also an international level wrestler & recipient of gold at 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship.

Geeta’s another younger sister Sangeeta Phogat is also a wrestler. On 20^th November 2016, she married to fellow wrestler Pawan Kumar. In December 2019, the couple had their first child a baby boy.

The Wrestling Journey of Geeta Phogat

Commonwealth Wrestling Championship

Geeta won gold in December 2009 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Jalandhar, Punjab.

2010 Commonwealth Games

In Commonwealth Games at New Delhi, she beat Emily Bensted from Australia & won gold medal for India.

2012 Summer Olympics

In the wrestling FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2012, Geeta won gold medal.

She went for rigorous training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, (NSNIS), Patiala, under the guidance of O.P. Yadav & foreign expert Ryan Dobo.

She was beaten in her opening fight by Canadian Tonya Verbeek. She won bronze medal & Canadians went for finals. She lost her first match to Lazareva from Ukraine in the repechage round.

World Wrestling Championships

Geeta won the bronze medal in the 2012 World Wrestling Championship in Canada. She won against Natalya Sinishin of Ukraine.

2012 Asian Wrestling Championships

Geeta lostthe first round of 2012 Asian Wrestling Championships by her Japanese opponent Kanako Murata. She won bronze in that championship.

2013 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships

Phogat finished second & won silver at the tournament held in Johannesesburg, South Africa. She won this medal in the freestyle 59 kg category after losing final bout to Oluwafunmilayo Adenivi of Nigetia.

2015 Asian Wrestling Championships

Phogat finished third and won bronze at 2015 Asian Wrestling Championships in Doha. She won it in 58 kg category along with Aiym Abdildina of Kazakhstan.

At the 2015, World Championship she was given a chance to contest in the repechage for the bronze medal. She lost to her opponent Elif Jale Yesilirmak of Turkey.

Aamir Khan’s very popular Hindi film Dangal is loosely based on the story of Geeta Phogat and her sister. Fatima Sana Shaikh player her role in that film & Zaira Wasim played role of her sister.

Initially Pooja Dhanda was supposed to play the role of Babita Phogat in the movie, but unfortunately she could not play due to an injury. Later she went on to defeat Geeta Phogat in the real life national championship.

We hope you find the biography and inspirational success story of Geeta Phogat, a freestyle wrestler and India’s original Dangal Girl inspiring through your entrepreneurial journey and will keep you inspired.

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