Indian mixed martial arts athlete Ritu Phogat shares her thoughts ahead of her next MMA bout in Singapore
Ritu Phogat, the third Phogat sister and 2016 Commonwealth wrestling gold medalist, is as ferocious as they come. Called an Indian Tigress in the mixed martial arts (MMA) fraternity, Phogat harbours the dream to become India’s first woman MMA champion. Coming from a strong legacy, one that is captured in the Bollywood hit Dangal, and training alone in Singapore since March last year, the 27-year-old says that the COVID-19 pandemic has made her stronger.
The spirit to always give a tough fight isn’t new for Ritu, who comes from a small village in Haryana and has had to battle the odds to forge an inspiring career on the wrestling mat. The most expensive female wrestler at the Pro Wrestling League auction in 2016, Ritu was expected by many to represent India at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, but she shocked the wrestling world when she announced that she was switching her focus to mixed martial arts instead, and moving to Singapore to train at Evolve MMA.
Speaking about her shift from wrestling to mixed martial arts, and how it helped her as a sportsperson, in an interview from Singapore, she shares, “My journey from wrestling to MMA has been quite different. I had been watching MMA fights for a long time, and I found myself interested in this sport. I used to wonder why there isn’t a champion in MMA from India. My desire to do something different made me join Evolve MMA when I received an opportunity to do so. I would like to reiterate, I want to become India’s first woman world champion in mixed martial arts.”
Away from her close-knit family, and in a different reality altogether, COVID-19 knocked on Phogat’s door as a big challenge. She also shared that the last time she went home was in March 2020. Talking about how the pandemic impacted her life and schedule, she says, “It was a big challenge because I’m in a different country, away from my family. If it was wrestling, I could have trained at home and sought guidance from my sisters. I have wrestled for a long time. But, this was a difficult time for me. In Singapore, gyms closed due to COVID, which was an added challenge. I had to keep myself mentally strong, busy and had to improve myself even during these uncertain times. Covid has made me stronger.”
However, she feels life is getting back on track. “Singapore is under a lockdown again but it’s not as strict as before when we couldn’t even step outside our homes. We can train and run outdoors. Singapore also has an efficient fast vaccination system in place, so hopefully, things will regain a sense of normalcy now,” she expresses thoughtfully.
When quizzed about her preparation for her upcoming fight, she opens up, “I, my coach, my teammates and colleagues have worked hard to prepare for the fight. I learnt a lot from the previous match, and my confidence, as well as the intensity of my training, is at a high level. I learn from my mistakes and would try to not repeat them in this one. I can’t wait to step into the ring.”
Daughter to the rather popular Mahavir Phogat, Ritu is a sister to Geeta and Babita Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat, and cousin to Vinesh Phogat — all wrestling champions. Sharing more on her family and if there is a cultural shift about girls taking up the sport, back home, she reveals, “When I started wrestling, my father and elder sisters had already paved the way. The road was clear. After our success and the success of Dangal, many things changed, but there is still a long way to go and many mindsets to change. I am doing my best to change that and do something for women and girls. For a child to succeed, parents’ support is the most important. I want parents to realise that their daughters can achieve something too. When we started, we had to face much resistance from within the village. But our father wanted to see us achieve, and here we are, because of him.”
Ritu is slated for a decisive July 30 fight at the ONE Championship. She recently joined an exclusive list of athletes, that include Stephen Curry, Tom Brady, Anthony Joshua, Jordan Spieth, Michael Phelps and Dwayne Johnson, associated with Under Armour. Commenting on her association with the renowned brand, she delightfully mentions that she feels ‘like a champion wearing their clothes’, and is honoured to have her name featured among the best of the best.
