Babita Kumari
Babita Kumari Phogat is an Indian freestyle wrestler from Haryana who later became a politician. She was born on November 20, 1989, in Balali village, Charkhi Dadri district. She trained with her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, and grew up with sisters Geeta, Vinesh, Ritu, and Sangita, who are all wrestlers as well.
Her wrestling career includes several major medals. She won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 55 kg category and silver at the 2010 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. She earned bronze at the 2012 World Wrestling Championships and bronze at the 2013 Asian Championships. She competed in the 53 kg category at the 2016 Rio Olympics but did not win a medal, and she finished fourth at the 2014 Asian Games after losing the bronze medal match.
In 2019, Babita entered politics by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She announced her engagement to fellow wrestler Vivek Suhag in June 2019 and married him in November 2019; they welcomed a son on January 11, 2021. She also tried to enter Haryana politics in 2019 but lost the election.
The film Dangal (2016) is based on her and her sister Geeta Phogat. Babita’s family has helped change attitudes toward girls and women in Haryana and across India. Her sister Geeta won India’s first Commonwealth Games gold in 2010, her cousin Vinesh Phogat won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and her younger sister Ritu Phogat is also an accomplished wrestler.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:48 (CET).