Geeta Phogat, Wrestler
Wrestler

Geeta Phogat

Born 15 December 1988 · Haryana

Winning India's first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in wrestling in 2010.

Geeta Phogat is a freestyle wrestler who won India's first-ever gold medal in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in 2010. She was also the first Indian female wrestler to have qualified for the Olympic Games.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

Geeta Phogat was the first Indian female wrestler to qualify for the Olympic Games when she secured her spot in 2012 at the Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The Story

1
🌟 In December 2009, at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Jalandhar, Punjab, Geeta Phogat clinched a gold medal that set the stage for her rising wrestling career.
2
In October 2010, Geeta made history by winning the gold medal in women's wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, defeating Australia's Emily Bensted with a decisive 1–0, 7–0 scoreline.
3🏅 April 2012 saw Geeta qualify for the London Olympics by winning gold at the Wrestling FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan, marking her as the first Indian female wrestler to reach the Olympic Games.
4At the 2012 World Wrestling Championships in Canada, Geeta secured a bronze medal after defeating Natalya Sinishin of Ukraine 3:0 in the repechage final, marking a rare podium finish for Indian women’s wrestling on the world stage.

🏅 Awards & Honours

2016
Arjuna Award
2017
Padma Shri

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 2012, at the World Wrestling Championships in Canada, Geeta Phogat lost her second round match to Saori Yoshida but fought through repechage rounds to win a bronze medal, a rare feat for Indian women wrestlers at that time.

🖼️

Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
Geeta Phogat winning the Women's Free Style Wrestling 55 Kg gold medal in New Delhi (2010)
Geeta Phogat winning the Women's Free Style Wrestling 55 Kg gold medal in New Delhi (2010)
2010
Geeta Phogat appearing on the TV show Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 8 (2017)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Balali, Haryana
Geeta Phogat was born in the village of Balali in Charkhi Dadri district, Haryana, into a wrestling family led by her father Mahavir Singh Phogat.
1988
⚡
Career
Gold at Commonwealth Wrestling Championship
Geeta won gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship held in Jalandhar, Punjab, marking a major national milestone.
2009
⚡
Career
Commonwealth Games Gold Medal
She secured India’s first gold in women’s wrestling at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi by defeating Emily Bensted.
2010
⚡
Career
Olympic Qualification Gold
Geeta won gold at the FILA Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament in Almaty, Kazakhstan, qualifying for the London Olympics.
2012
⚡
Career
Bronze at World Championships
At the World Wrestling Championships in Canada, Geeta won a bronze medal after repechage victories.
2012
🌟
Other
Marriage to Pawan Kumar
Geeta married fellow wrestler Pawan Kumar, blending personal and wrestling worlds.
2016
🌟
Other
Birth of Son Arjun Saroha
Geeta and Pawan Kumar welcomed their first child, a boy named Arjun Saroha.
2019
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Geeta Phogat and her sisters trained with boys in their village during their childhood, often physically confronting them, breaking social norms in Balali village, Haryana.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, was stricter in real life than his portrayal in 'Dangal', pushing the girls through a hardcore training regimen that was uncommon for girls in rural Haryana.

03 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Despite her wrestling fame, Geeta Phogat actively participated in reality TV shows like 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 8', finishing ninth, showing her willingness to challenge herself outside the wrestling arena.

“

"I want to tell all the girls that never feel weak or helpless. If you feel strong within, no one in this world can stop you from achieving anything. You have to be strong in your mind."

— Geeta Phogat

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
JSW Steel- Will of Steel- Geeta Phogat's story
More from this archive
JSW Steel- Will of Steel- Geeta Phogat's story
01
JSW Steel- Will of Steel- Geeta Phogat's story
Geeta and Babita Phogat's exclusive Interview - The Kapil Sharma Show – 15th Jan 2017
02
Geeta and Babita Phogat's exclusive Interview - The Kapil Sharma Show – 15th Jan 2017
The Real Dangal Mahavir Singh Phogat With Geeta Phogat & Babita Kumari Phogat Interview | Aamir Khan
03
The Real Dangal Mahavir Singh Phogat With Geeta Phogat & Babita Kumari Phogat Interview | Aamir Khan
Mahavir Singh Phogat With Geeta And Babita Phogat - Real Dangal Stars Interview
04
Mahavir Singh Phogat With Geeta And Babita Phogat - Real Dangal Stars Interview
Mahavir Singh Phogat,Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat Real Life Dangal Heroes | Interview
05
Mahavir Singh Phogat,Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat Real Life Dangal Heroes | Interview
Geeta Phogat Interview
06
Geeta Phogat Interview
Dangal inspiration: Geeta Phogat fights for Gold, with Emily Bensted, at Commonwealth Games 2010
07
Dangal inspiration: Geeta Phogat fights for Gold, with Emily Bensted, at Commonwealth Games 2010
Mahavir Singh Phogat & His Daughters Geeta & Babita - INTERVIEW | DANGAL & Aamir Khan
08
Mahavir Singh Phogat & His Daughters Geeta & Babita - INTERVIEW | DANGAL & Aamir Khan
PWL 3 Day 7: Geeta Phogat speaks before the battle between UP Dangal and Delhi Sultans
09
PWL 3 Day 7: Geeta Phogat speaks before the battle between UP Dangal and Delhi Sultans
Dangal sisters of India: Geeta and Babita Phogat, the wrestling champs!
10
Dangal sisters of India: Geeta and Babita Phogat, the wrestling champs!

🌱 What changed because of them

Geeta Phogat’s success triggered increased visibility for women’s wrestling in India, especially in rural Haryana where female participation in sports was minimal. The Phogat family’s story inspired the Bollywood film 'Dangal,' which further popularized wrestling and challenged social norms about women in athletics. This has encouraged sports institutions to invest more in women wrestlers and prompted a cultural shift towards accepting and supporting female athletes in traditionally male-dominated sports.

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