Geeta Phogat has broken barriers and inspired millions

Geeta Phogat’s birthplace is Balali village, located somewhere in rural northwestern India’s state of Haryana on 15 December 1988, and she’s become the face of breaking stereotypes when it comes to opening up opportunities for a girl who wants to become a wrestler; she has always been motivated by those close to her regardless of field – be it sports or anything else – aside from being very resilient all along this course.

Society told girls in this village that girls don’t wrestle," Geeta thought. But there was one man who believed differently inside himself; he had been a wrestler and seen the promise in his daughters, too. To him, they were meant for wrestling championships rather than what other people thought.

Mahavir did not have sufficient funds to finance his daughter’s tuition; hence he converted their compound into an akhada or ring where he trained his daughters Geeta and her sisters Babita Kumari, Ritu Phogat, and Sangita Phogat. It at first seemed unusual for the neighborhood how to bring up their kids but in the end proved weight in gold for their awesome sporting journey.

During the early years of Geeta's career, there was massive discipline and sacrifice despite limited resources and social disapproval hence the strict training. These female athletes trained alongside male counterparts with whom they were sometimes ridiculed, often displaying derogatory attitudes, however, these never swayed them. All day long they exercised intensely, dreaming of becoming world champions in this game late in the evening. It was a hard time for them.

Her devotion quickly turned the business around and Geeta, along with her sisters, emerged as winners in local wrestling. It was what attracted the attention of the national coaches; hence, they took them to the famous Delhi Chhatrasal Stadium in 2002 for the sake of enhancing their proficiency in wrestling. Their encounter with many sophisticated methods as well as top-level combat during that occasion marked a turning point in their lives as sportswomen.

Geeta first tasted victory in wrestling at the national level when she was very young. At the Asian Cadet Championships in 2003, 2004, and 2005, there were three occasions when she won three medals each. Even in her youth, these initial signs showed themselves. One time in 2009, she won gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships – an event that would forever change her life.

Geeta reached a momentous juncture in 2010 when she won gold in the 55kg freestyle wrestling category at the Delhi Commonwealth Games defeating her opponent, marking the first win by any Indian woman in a wrestling competition.

Geeta wasn’t done here. As a result of that, she later received an invitation to participate in the 2012 Summer Games in London making her the company’s first ever female wrestler from India to do so. By not winning anything, it was simply a clear indication of how serious she had been with his training program and it seemed things were working for her.

Geeta has succeeded but not only in wrestling. She joined hands with her sisters to inspire other young ladies in the country into wrestling. Their story was touching such that it changed people's perspective hence increasing female participation in sports.

In honor of her contributions to Indian wrestling, as a sportswoman of her rank, in 2012 Geeta was conferred with the Arjuna award which is only made accessible to those who have excelled in different sports. Moreover; she has acted as a role model to many people who are interested in pursuits apart from sports, particularly girls below twenty-five years old wishing to pursue careers that demand defiance of established norms.

Not just wrestling victories define Geeta's story, but overcoming her expectations by attempting what seemed perplexing. It shows that with supportive relatives around, one can fully concentrate on the set goals and live up to them without changing positions, towards which he or she was moving. It takes much braveness from somebody to violate norms; this type of strength was present in her personality. In today's India, there is no other female person more respected than Geeta who has become most popular nationwide owing to her talent and determination she exercises for herself.

• Her life after retiring from wrestling might include coaching or starting a business.
• The personal life and marriage of this lady.
• Her task in the promotion of girls' wrestling in India
• Any other honors or awards other than the Arjuna Award.