Indian Women Pack a Punch, Conquer Combat Sports

Remember that Chak De! India scene, where a hockey association official quips that “chakla-belan chalaane wali Bhartiyan nariyan” were better off at home instead of playing hockey? Even today, many people have this attitude towards women in real life too, especially towards those who pursue combat sports like wrestling, boxing and judo, which aren’t considered “feminine” enough.But pretty often, the likes of Sakshi Malik remind them that women can do wonders too. And she isn’t alone. Much like hockey magician Dhyan Chand, whose birthday (August 29) is celebrated as National Sports Day, girls are showing some magical moves to conquer opponents (on the mat, in the ring), striking at the very heart of gender stereotypes in the process. Here’s raising a toast to some brave Indian women who have brought glory to India in combat sports:
WRESTLING: THE FAB FOUR:

Sakshi Malik: Sakshi wasn’t even Wrestling Federation of India’s first choice for the Olympics this year (in 58 kg category) and got a chance only because Geeta Phogat was unavailable for selection. The rest is history!

Vinesh Phogat: An unfortunate injury ruled her out in her second Olympic match at Rio. Vinesh was one of the favorites to win a medal in the 48 kg category. At 22, the 2014 Commonwealth Games (CWG) gold medallist has time on her side.
Babita Kumari: Babita (she participated at Rio Olympics) and her elder sister Geeta Phogat have inspired many young women to take up wrestling. She won the CWG gold in 2014.
Geeta Phogat: Geeta was the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics (2012, London). She won India’s first ever CWG gold in women’s wrestling in 2010.
BOXING: FISTS OF FURY:
MC Mary Kom: The only Indian woman boxer to win an Olympic medal (2012), this inspirational Manipuri woman is also a five-time world champion. She was recently nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
Laishram Sarita Devi: A former world champion in the lightweight class and a four-time Asian champion, Sarita had also won the Asian Games bronze in 2014. Indian fans will never forget how she wept uncontrollably after a controversial semi-final loss that year.
Pooja Rani: It took Pooja over six months to convince her parents that she loved boxing. Winning the Asian Boxing Championship silver in 2012 remains one of the highlights of her career.
Pinki Rani Jangra: The 2014 CWG bronze medallist has won quite a few international medals, and she even beat Mary Kom, her idol, at the national level.
JUDO: THE SHINING TRIO:
Garima Chaudhary: Garima (2012 Olympian) initially trained with boys due to lack of proper facilities. This year, she won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Judo Championships.
Thoudam Kalpana Devi: The first Indian to win a World Cup medal (2010), Kalpana also won the 2014 CWG bronze.
Sushila Devi Likmabam: This inspirational judoka won the CWG silver in 2014 in spite of limited international exposure.
THE MAJOR CHALLENGES THEY FACE:
The Naysayers: From relatives and neighbors to random people, it’s a long list. Recalls Geeta Phogat, “When I started training, many people said that my ears would get out of shape and nobody will marry me.” Adds Sakshi Malik, “Today, those who criticized my parents for allowing me to wrestle, credit them for believing in my dreams.”
Who Do We Train With? In many cases, they found no girls to train with. Says Babita Kumari, “Both me and Geeta have trained with boys while growing up. Aur koi option hi nahi tha.”
Limited Facilities: It’s another sad reality for non-cricketers. As Vinesh Phogat had told us, “We had no government supported akhadas in my village when I started off.”
Keeping a tab on their weight: Being even a few hundred grams overweight is enough for disqualification, since all these sports have strict weight categories. Says Babita, “In combat sports, it’s crucial to watch your diet. Before tournaments, we completely avoid ghee and any food item that makes one put on weight.”
Intense Training Sessions: There’s no substitute for rigorous training sessions. Says Geeta, “Even today, we have the same intensity while training that we had while starting our careers. Also, the right routine at the gym helps.” Adds Sakshi, “If I feel too stressed, I try meditation. It helps in staying calm.”