Ritu Phogat was born to the well-known Indian wrestler and senior Olympics coach Mahavir Singh Phogat. |
At 8 years old, she began training in wrestling under the guidance of her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat. |
Though initially challenging, Ritu eventually developed a passion for wrestling. |
After completing her 10th standard, she left school to pursue a career in wrestling. |
She competes in the 48 kg freestyle wrestling category. |
Making her international debut at the 2014 FILA Junior World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, marks a significant achievement for Ritu. |
In October 2016, she secured her second consecutive title at the National Wrestling Championship. |
She clinched a Gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Singapore. |
Standing out, Ritu became the costliest female wrestler at the Pro Wrestling League auction in December 2016. |
In November 2017, she made history by winning a silver medal at the World U-23 Wrestling Championship in Poland. |
Ritu transitioned to MMA in February 2019, joining ONE Championship and expressing her eagerness to broaden her horizons. |
She sought training in various martial arts at EVOLVE MMA in Singapore. |
Ritu's MMA debut took place on 16 November 2019 in a match against Cindy Tiong from Malaysia under the ONE Championship. |
She is an admirer of the Iranian wrestling team. |
As a fitness enthusiast, Ritu maintains a regular gym routine. |
The Phogat family's inspiring journey was depicted in the 2016 biopic "Dangal" by Aamir Khan. |
Geeta and Babita, her sisters, serve as Ritu's main sources of inspiration. |
Ritu's cousins, Vinesh and Priyanka Phogat, also excel in wrestling at an international level. |
In an interview, Ritu disclosed that she dedicates around six hours each day to her training. |
Her morning meal typically includes juice, curd, and an almond shake prepared by her father. |
Ritu discovered her passion for martial arts through YouTube in 2012, which eventually led her to pursue MMA. |
She received immense support from her family when she decided to venture into MMA. |
In October 2019, Ritu Phogat set a goal to become India's first MMA world champion within two years. |