(CNN) – For the first time ever, three Indian female wrestlers are headed for the 2016 Olympics.

They all come from the state of Haryana where the latest gang rapes of lower caste women have happened. These three wrestlers are breaking gender hurdles with the help one man, their coach, Uncle and Father.

Training for Rio, the pressure is palpable.

“Every part of your body needs to be strong from your head to your feet,” said Sakshi Malik, Wrestler.

Vinesh Phogat, wrestler, said “Presence of mind, power, stamina, determination, you need all of it.”

For the first time ever, three Indian female wrestlers have qualified for the Olympics. Wrestling is not new to India. It’s a sport this country has always performed well in at the Olympics. But its long been dominated by men. Now with three female wrestlers qualifying for Rio for the first time, these girls are on the verge of making history.

They’re tough, unyielding but the physical bouts of wrestling is the least of their challenges.

“In our society, it is so difficult to be a woman, forget about being a wrestler,” said Phogat.

All three wrestlers come from the northern state of Haryana, one of the most patriarchal societies in the country.

“It’s such a minor thing, but even wearing a T-shirt is a big deal in our village. So our first fight was to be able to wear what we want, then to train, to be able to stay out. There are so many barriers,” said Phogat.

Barriers these girls were able to break through because of one man, Mahavir Singh Phogat. A legend around there, turning his traditional wrestling mud pit into a modern gym.

Training all four of his daughters and two nieces to become professional wrestlers.

“Most people here are still very biased towards women. When a daughter is born, people are actually sad here. Parents give sons better food, educate them while daughters are just raised to do all the housework,” said Mahavir Singh.

In a state where some 37,000 girls are killed every year before they are even born, one of the highest rates of abortion of females, the success of these girls is inspiring.

“Things are slowly changing. Many now want their daughters to become wrestlers. I built the first and only wrestling gym for women, now there are more than 50 of them,” said Singh.

Changing mindsets with sport, from villages to towns, girls to women.