Ritu Phogat
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2016-19
February 26, 2019: India Today
Ritu Phogat has signed with a Singapore-based Mixed Martial Arts organisation named EVOLVE MMA, which has the highest number of world champions on the planet
The third of the Phogat sisters, Ritu Phogat had decided to quit wrestling and pursue a career in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). The 24-year-old from Haryana has had an eventful career in wrestling and was on course to follow her older sisters Geeta Phogat, Babita Phogat and Vinesh Phogat but has instead chosen to switch careers.
In order to shift her focus to MMA, Ritu has signed with a Singapore-based MMA organisation named EVOLVE MMA, which has the highest number of world champions on the planet.
In her short international wrestling career, Ritu won the gold medal at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Singapore in the 48kg category.
In December 2016, Ritu became the most expensive female wrestler at the Pro Wrestling League auction, as she bagged a Rs 36 lakh contract with the Jaipur Ninjas franchise.
2017
Wins India’s 1st Silver In World U-23
Hindol Basu, November 26, 2017: The Times of India
From: Hindol Basu, November 26, 2017: The Times of India
‘Ruthless’ Ritu Wins India’s 1st Silver In World U-23
Theirs was the story that made Dangal a superhit film. After Geeta and Babita on whom the movie was based, and their cousin Vinesh, another Phogat girl is on the rise. And according to brother Rahul, Ritu Phogat is ruthless, merciless and the most menacing of the sisters when she is on the mat. At times, even off it.
Ritu won silver in the 48kg category in the ongoing World U-23 Wrestling Championship being held in Bydgoszcz, Poland. This was India’s first silver in the prestigious championship. Earlier, Indian women have managed to win only a bronze.
Ritu lost the final to Evin Demirhan of Turkey in a thriller. Both were tied at four points each at the end of two rounds. But the Turkish girl was declared the winner since Ritu had received a caution point during the match.
Back home in Haryana’s Balali village, father Mahavir Phogat felt Ritu could have done better. “She should’ve wrestled smartly and not let the gold slip. This is her first medal in a world championship in the senior category and that makes me proud. She has the ability to win an Olympic medal in 2020,” said Phogat.
Caution point went against me: Ritu
It is a mixed feeling. On one hand, I am happy to win the silver; but missing out on the gold, after being so close, is disappointing,” Ritu told TOI from Bydgoscz. “It was evenstevens at 2-2 after the first round, but in the second the Turkish girl went ahead 4-2 after I received a caution point against my name. Although I managed to draw level towards the end, the caution point went against me.”
Ritu had received a walkover in the first round and straightaway got a place in the quarterfinals, where she defeated Miglena Georgieva Selishka of Bulgaria by a 4-2 margin. In the semis, she defeated China’s Jiang Zhu 4-3 in a closely fought encounter.
Rahul Phogat, brother of the Phogat sisters, believes that Ritu can outshine the other since the 23-year-old puts in much more hard work. “She (Ritu) practises the most. She puts in hours and hours on the mat and trains for 6-7 hours a day. If you follow their junior careers, it is Ritu who has won the most medals. I think she is going to do wonders for the country in the senior category too.”
About Ritu’s wrestling style, Rahul said, “Woh badi hardcore wrestler hai, uske mann mein reham, sahanbhuti kuch nahi hai. Saari behano mein sabse khatarnaak hai Ritu (She is a hardcore wrestler. She is ruthless and doesn’t show any mercy on her opponents. Of all the sisters, Ritu is the most menacing). Suppose an opponent gets injured while wrestling with Ritu, she’ll make sure her next move is to attack the hurt area.”
In 2016, Ritu had won gold at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in Singapore in the 48kg category. In May this year, she won a bronze at the Asian Wrestling Championship in New Delhi.
2020
Wins fourth consecutive MMA championship title
December 6, 2020: The Times of India
Ritu Phogat extends unbeaten pro record
Singapore:
Indian wrestlerturned-mixed martial arts fighter Ritu Phogat won her fourth consecutive MMA championship title here. The 26-year-old Indian beat Philippines' Jomary Torres via technical knockout in round one of ONE Championship (ONE) at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
“I am constantly pushing my boundaries in the circle and the match with Jomary bore witness to the same. I know I have bigger challenges in future,” Ritu was quoted as saying in a release.
