A biography for Geeta Phogathasn’t been written yet.
“We had a very hard training during our childhood and I don't want to live it again.”
“I wear jeans and shorts. I travelled on my own to Mumbai for my knee surgery. I can go to Delhi when I want. Being a sportsperson helps me get away from the bhed bhav of Haryana.”
“I have seen my father defying societal norms and investing his time and energy on us. He was ridiculed and criticised by the community for asking girls to seek a career in wrestling. But he had vision and was least worried when elders warned him his daughters would not find grooms. I had to wrestle for him and that motivated me tremendously.”
“The problem of burgeoning population can be addressed if we begin with women itself. And, we need to educate them and spread awareness about birth control and family planning through TV channels and newspapers.”
“Yes, Indian wrestling has improved since foreign coaches came in because the skills and techniques they have is new to us.”
“I used to watch Babita and Vinesh win medals. I was happy for my sisters but at the same time I felt bad for not being a part of the contingent.”
“I want to focus on my training and leave no room for distraction. So, reality-tv shows are a no-no.”
“If Sakshi can be successful in her field, so can any other woman in our country.”
“I think staying away from wrestling for two years with injury and the movie, I lost my focus.”
“Seeing my name in the newspapers after winning the national junior championship motivated me to win more medals and I have never looked back since then.”
“We need to trust our coaches. Unless we trust them we can't get the result.”
“Young girls in Haryana should speak their mind and not be afraid to challenge the system.”
“I've seen the success of Mary Kom at the Olympics... We stayed in the same flat. If she can win a medal after being the mother of two, why can't I?”
“Don't just set a goal for your child but ensure that they play outdoor sports for overall development.”
“In our village women are left to clean the house and milk the cattle so when I first entered the ring, I had to hear the criticism of people.”
“I was scared of water, so I learnt swimming.”
“Wrestling will always be my top priority.”
“In my village, girls have limited opportunities. If they get admission in a college, only a few households would allow them to go for further studies.”
“I come from a village where traditionally girls don't go out and play sport so I struggled a lot to come this far and to get to this position where I am at the Olympics.”