We are proud to be role models.
— Geeta Phogat
I am fully prepared to fight with any opponent in my category from any team.
Till the time my body supports me and till the time I have that desire inside me to succeed, till then I will keep wrestling.
Honestly, I have not done any preparation for 'Khatron ka Khiladi.'
I hope Indian parents will allow girls to choose their own destiny.
It is a very proud moment for our entire family that a movie has been made on our lives and we have taken a small village of Haryana to Hollywood.
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.
If all girls turn strong within themselves, men with bad intentions can be taught apt lessons.
After our life history was shown on the silver screen and much appreciated by the audiences, I have more of a responsibility on my shoulders now.
Isn't it wrong to target and brand an entire state in a poor light?
For an athlete, the country is everything.
I want to settle down and start an academy in a rural area, because I feel that's where most champions come from. If you have everything in life, why would you wake up at 3:30 A.M. to train? I feel there's a lot of talent that goes untapped there, especially in women sports.
It's important for parents to be strict if you want the kids to succeed.
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.
My first gold was in the 2002 cadet national. I realized I was good enough even outside my village and my district.
I want to tell the students to follow their heart and respect their parents and teachers as they are their ultimate gurus.
Everybody at the Olympics are almost at level par.
Everyone should be allowed to participate in sport, because it helps you to become more confident. That is important for women in India, because we are not always treated as equals.
Dangal' movie has been made on our lives in which two daughters win a medal for the country. It just shows that the times are changing and people's attitudes are changing and if it is changing because of us then we are very happy about it.
Wrestling is different from other sports. It is not just about physical strength. It is more of a mind game as during matches we have to read the mind of opponents and outwit them.
In real life I have conquered my worst fears by fighting and beating bigger wrestlers in dangal. So I am not afraid of anything.
Usually, it is the men who are given importance. But now, people view women wrestlers as equals.
Dangal has changed our lives.
It was my father's passion actually. I had never wished to become a wrestler. I was 12 when my father initiated me into this sport. Gradually, I started liking it and then it became my passion too.
Yes, I have watched 'Dangal.' Fatima has done a brilliant job.
Now my grandmother, who used to want sons, says that she does not really want boys anymore. She says I'm the lion of the family.
There are a mix of good and bad people everywhere, be it Punjab, Delhi or Haryana.
I have faith in myself.
Even if someone offers me junk food, I won't eat it.
Don't just set a goal for your child but ensure that they play outdoor sports for overall development.
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.
My father was a disciplinarian. He had this cane and he would spare no one if found at fault. Unlike Babita, I was not physically strong and couldn't cope with the training. So I got the most beatings.
It's not easy to juggle between studies and sports but yes, if you are clear about your goals and have passion, you can definitely succeed.
Even my grandmother would tell me that girls should not wrestle, it's a man's game.
We became quite famous in our district. People came especially to watch us. And I used to love it when we heard them saying, 'There go the girls who beat boys.'
I am very happy that Indian women are making their mark in sports be is Sakshi Malik or even PV Sindhu who also won a medal for the country. We talk about women empowerment and there cannot be any bigger example than this.
Thanks to my training in Balali village, I am rough and tough.
If Sakshi can be successful in her field, so can any other woman in our country.
We have won laurels for the country in wrestling but still, in spite of winning medals, not many people recognised us.
Before Babita and my win at the CommonWealth Games, nobody used to take Indian women wrestlers seriously.
Wrestling will always be my top priority.
Visiting Spain does not excite me as much as making my parents proud does.
My father always told my sisters and me that once you succeed, people will automatically be quiet. And he was right.
I think if we are at a war with an enemy country, that country is responsible for our soldiers' deaths.
I want to focus on my training and leave no room for distraction. So, reality-tv shows are a no-no.
I will be even more strict than my dad, because look at me, I turned out fine.
Politicians should talk about sportspersons and sports, and it should surely be in the agenda when they go out asking for votes.
Wrestlers from Japan and Canada are very tough.
Our akhara was very basic. It was just a little opening next to where the animals were tied. We had to first dig the soil with our bare hands, make it loose, before we could begin our session. I used to hate it. It also used to be either too hot or too cold. There were no mats, no mattresses, nothing.
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?
