‘I learned over the years how to diminish the fear. It’s about knowing what I must do and doing that away with fear.’
This applies perfectly to Babita Kumari Phogat, who knew what she wanted and achieved a remarkable feat. Curious? Well, she is an Indian freestyle combatant.
Phogat gained consideration after winning the silver medal at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games. Not only that, but she is one of the finest lady wrestlers in India.
Kumari also earned a gold medal, several silver medals, and a bronze at different Wrestling Championships.
She had such an impact that one of the Indian producers made a biopic on her life, starring A-list actors like Aamir Khan, and what do you know? It was a hit!
Before looking at the details of her life, let us check some quick facts about Phogat below.
Quick Facts
Full Name | Babita Kumari Phogat |
Date Of Birth | November 20, 1989 |
Place Of Birth | Bhiwani, Haryana, India |
Nick/Pet Name | Unknown |
Religion | Hindu |
Nationality | Indian |
Ethnic Belonging | Unknown |
Father’s Name | Mahavir Singh Phogat |
Mother’s Name | Daya Kaur |
Number Of Siblings | 4 |
Education | MDU Rohtak Haryana |
Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
Age | 34 years old |
Height | ‎160 cm (5 ft 3 in) |
Weight | 55 kg (125 lb) |
Eye color | Brown |
Hair color | Black |
Shoe Size | Unavailable |
Body Measurement | Unknown |
Figure | Athletic |
Marital Status | Married |
Boyfriend | No |
Children | Yes |
Occupation | Freestyle wrestling |
Net worth | $2 Million |
Salary | Unavailable |
Active Since | 2009 |
Pets | Unknown |
Current works as | Politician |
Social Handle | Instagram, Twitter |
Wrestling Merch | Knee Pads, Shoes |
Last Update | October, 2024 |
Babita Kumari Phogat | Age, Height, and Body Measurements
Phogat is one of the most accomplished lady wrestlers in the history of India. She was born on November 20, 1989, making her 34 years old.
Likewise, Babita isn’t very tall, but she has average height according to Indian standards, i.e., 5’3.
Also, she weighs around 55 kg. This Haryanvi wrestler has a sleek and athletic body type. Kumari also has a radiant smile and a gorgeous complexion.
Fans love her for working hard towards making the nation proud but not just that. Babita, along with her sisters and cousin, has contributed to a lot of change.
The change was specifically towards the general public’s mindset towards girls in a girl-hating region of India.
Haryana has been a hub for girl feticide and honor killing of girls. Babita set an example by achieving international recognition.
As a November born, Phogat’s zodiac is Scorpio. They are known to be determined, brave, loyal, honest, and ambitious.
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Babita Kumari Phogat | Sisters, Parents, and Education
‘They say the apple does not fall far from a tree.’ This Haryanvi gold medalist was born to an award-winning wrestler Mahavir Phogat and a loving mother, Daya Kaur.
Phogat has five sisters altogether, all of whom are combatants like herself.
The oldest one is Geeta. And then Babita, Priyanka, Ritu, Vinesh, and Sangita, respectively.
While Babita, Ritu, and Sangita are her own sisters, Priyanka and Vinesh are not.
Mahavir brought them up after their father got executed in a land dispute, who is the brother of Mahavir.
Babita’s father trained all six of them in wrestling in their native village of Balali in the Bhiwani district.
Three Phogat sisters are gold prizewinners in diverse weight groups at the Commonwealth Games.
The other three are silver winners and different category runner-ups as well. So it seems that all the Phogat sisters are striving to do better.
As for her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat is an ex-wrestler from Haryana’s village who became a wrestling coach later.
Phogat’s grandfather Man Singh was also a wrestler. But the road to success was not “rainbows and sunshine” for dear Kumari.
Phogat nearly suffered an identity crisis as a child. She was bound to dress like a boy and have short hair by her papa.
Although girls these days aren’t judged based on their hairstyles, things were not the same when Babita grew up.
Talking about her studies, Kumari went to MDU Rohtak for her higher studies. After that, she joined the National Sports Academy in Patiala.
Babita Kumari Phogat | Career & First Gold
Phogat started her journey by entering a local competition held in Jalandhar, Punjab. And as many wouldn’t have expected, she won the gold medal in the women’s freestyle 51 kg category.
After winning her first gold, Babita ended up in the second position in the women’s freestyle 51 kg category.
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, she was overpowered by Ifeoma Christi Nwoye of Nigeria.
Even though Phogat didn’t win the gold, she continued training hard after this defeat.
International Wins & Medals
As a result of training hard and placing a much better effort, Babita earned the gold medal in the ladies’ freestyle 48 kg group held in Melbourne, Australia.
Likewise, in the sixteenth round of the 2012 World Wrestling Championships, Babita tackled Hsin-Ju Chiu of Taipei, whom she shattered in 5:0.
Phogat’s quarter-finals opponent was Risako Kawai of Japan, and this time too, she won against her.
But unfortunately, Babita couldn’t stand by Jessica Anne Marie MacDonald hailing Canada in the semi-finals.
However, the game rule allowed her to compete for the bronze medal, which she won. Phogat beat Zamira Rakhmanova of Russia by 5:0 in the 51 kg category.
Moreover, Phogat successfully bagged a bronze medal at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Contest held in New Delhi, India.
In the same category at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Phogat’s first rival in the quarter-finals was Kathryn Marsh of Scotland.
She easily won over her by beating her with the score of 9–2, 4–0 (cataloging points 4:1). Her adversary in the semi-finals was Louisa Porogovska of England. However, Phogat had a glorious victory by falling.
In the final gold medal bout, she was up contrary to Brittanee Laverdure of Canada. She thrashed by a 5–0, 4–2 score to win the gold medal.
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Asian Games Detail
Mahavir’s daughter could not reiterate her Commonwealth Games feat at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.
In the sixteenth round of the women’s freestyle 55 kg group, she tackled Srey Mao Dorn of Mongolia, whom she easily beat by 5:0.
But unfortunately, she lost 0:4 to Olympic winner Saori Yoshida of Japan in the semi-finals. Phogat then contested for the bronze medal at this period but lost.
Babita Phogat | Entry Into Olympics
It was equally overwhelming and challenging for India as Babita became India’s third and final entry. So it was for the women’s wrestling 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Phogat proudly represented India sideways with her cousin Vinesh Phogat. Similarly, she became eligible for the Rio Games after her challenger failed a doping examination in the qualifying tournament.
And by rule, Rio gave the quota to India. But sadly, Babita lost in the first round with a 1–5.
Despite that, Babita collected the silver honor in ladies’ 53 kg freestyle wrestling at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
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Will Bobita Phogat be present at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?
Sadly, the renowned wrestler, a one-time Olympian, will not be at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics representing India. However, her cousin Vinesh Phogat qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
Vinesh is also trained and raised by Babita’s father, Mahavir Singh Phogat. Moreover, Tokyo Olympics will be her second consecutive Olympic appearance, as she also represented India in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Nevertheless, she did not win India any medals in 2016 and finished in the 10th position. But, Vinesh has improved significantly since then and was even ranked the No. 1 wrestler.
She won many gold medals in the 2021 season and hoped to bring the Olympic gold medal home. Unlike Rio, Vinesh will be competing in the 53 kg category at Tokyo Olympics.
Besides that, Babita will be cheering on her cousin from India. Furthermore, she recently posted a video where she wished luck to all the Indian athletes and encouraged them to give their best.
Likewise, Babita also advised them to remember their god and look at the Indian flag for inspiration and strength.
Physiotherapist demand at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Recently Vinesh came under scrutiny after the media reported that she requested her physiotherapist, Poornima R Ngomdir, at the last minute.
Nonetheless, she said she had requested a physiotherapist a while back but did not hear back from the IOA or the SAI.
Furthermore, the Indian media reported that she accused IOA of preferential treatment. She said some athletes had been allowed multiple coaches and staff while four female wrestlers could not get one physiotherapist. She said,
“Is it a crime to ask for one physiotherapist for four women wrestlers when there are instances of one athlete having multiple coaches/ Staff? Where is the balance? We have asked for a Physio long back and not at the last moment as reported.”
Babita Phogat | Personal Life and Struggles
Babita, as expected, created a lot of buzz in her home country India. After participating in a dance reality show, ‘Nach Baliye 9’ in 2019 with her boyfriend, Vivek Suhag.
Likewise, Phogat’s father cum coach was already involved with BJP, so she decided to join India’s ruling party in 2019.
Some controversies also took place in this wrestler’s life as she, along with her sisters, was expelled from Lucknow’s National Camp.
They accused the girls of not taking the camp seriously and never communicating with a coach to find solutions. Not to mention, the Phogat Sisters then left the camp for three more days.
This controversy, however, got solved as they genuinely apologized.
Marriage: Husband and Son
It is no secret that Babita is a married woman. She tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend, Vivek Suhag, on December 2, 2019.
Similarly, the duo tied the knot after dating for five whole years. Many A-list celebrities and politicians attended their grand weddings.
Then on November 21, 2020, the wrestler took on her Twitter and announced to the whole world that she was “pregnant.”
Babita was seen in the adorable photo with her husband, smiling and flaunting her baby bumps.
The duo welcomed their first child, a baby boy, on Monday, January 11, 2021. Soon her Twitter posts were flooded with congratulatory messages and wishes.
A Book and a biopic
Several writers, already prominent figures in Indian society, wrote a biography on the ‘Phogat Sisters.’ They depicted how hard it was for them as a child.
A book based on their life states that their father always wanted a boy.
But after birthing two sisters, his father changed his mind and started training the ladies in their village, making them who they are today.
In the meantime, a major motion picture was made, starring actors like Aamir Khan, Fatima Sana, Sanya Malhotra, and more.
Titled Dangal, the 2 hours and 49 minutes movie became a hit and earned a lot at the box office. Not only that, but it touched the hearts of many viewers, both national and international.
Some Favorite Things of Babita Phogat
- Food: Dal Churma & Noodles
- Cricketer: Virat Kohli
- Hobbies: Traveling, listening to music, and cooking
- Animal: Babita loves every kind of animal. She is very gentle with all of them.
- Is Babita a vegetarian? – No, she is a strict non-vegetarian. She loves chicken.
Babita Phogat | Social Media Presence
Instagram – 283k Followers
Twitter – 646.6k Followers
Babita Phogat | FAQs
How much did were Phogat family paid for Dangal?
According to Hindustan Times, the Phogat family was paid only Rs. 80 lakhs for the movie. But Mahavir Singh Phogat is satisfied with the amount.
Who played Babita in Dangal?
Sanya Malhotra played Babita’s role in the movie.