Sisters Vinesh (from left to right), Ritu, Sangeeta and Geeta Phogat.

CHANDIGARH: Living up to its reputation as the wrestling powerhouse of the country, 16 women grapplers from Haryana are part of a 20-member Indian contingent that is going to take part in the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship (for women) in Brakpan, South Africa from December 14 to 17.

Such a high number from a single state is unprecedented, as Haryana girls make up 80% of the Indian contingent. Out of the 16, four are from the family of legendary wrestling coach Mahavir Singh Phogat. They are Ritu Phogat, Geeta Phogat, Vinesh Phogat and Sangeeta Phogat. In the 51 kg category, Ritu and Nirmal will be vying for glory, while in the 53 kg weight class, Seema and Pinky (junior) will test their mettle. In 55 kg division, Vinesh and Manisha will be fighting it out, while in 57 kg category, Pooja and Sangeeta will sweat it out.

In the 59 kg category, Geeta and Ravita have been selected by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). In 62 kg, Sakshi Malik will be India’s bet. In 65 kg category, Ritu Malik will try and win the country a medal.

In the 68 kg section, Monia and Pinky (senior) have been chosen. In 72 kg, Kiran Godhara will be competing for glory, and finally in the 76 kg weight class Pooja will be representing the country.

‘State policy in rural areas has worked’

Haryana has always been the torchbearer for Indian wrestling, but this time the number of girls who have qualified from the state is totally unparalleled,” said Raj Kumar Hooda, vice-president of WFI. “Most of them are from Balali village, who have learnt the nitty-gritties of the sport from the legendary coach Mahavir Phogat. The others are from other small academies from different districts of Haryana,” added Hooda.

He also explained that the state’s policy of having wrestling academies and training facilities in farflung areas of the state has worked wonders. “In Haryana, there are wrestling academies and training facilities in the remotest areas. The sport has managed to penetrate in distant areas of the state where technical training is being provided by well-acclaimed coaches. Also, success at the international level by the likes of Sakshi, Geeta, Babita and Vinesh has meant that parents are not averse to send their girls to those academies,” Hooda reflected.

