Mahavir Singh Phogat

Mahavir Singh Phogat

Phogat in 2016
Personal information
Nationality	Indian
Born	Bhiwani, Haryana, India
Spouse	Daya Kaur
Sport
Country	India
Sport	Wrestling
Now coaching	Geeta Phogat, Babita Kumari, Ritu Phogat, Vinesh Phogat, Priyanka Phogat

Mahavir Singh Phogat is an Indian amateur wrestler, senior Olympics coach and politician.^[1][2] He is the trainer and father of the Phogat sisters.^[3] The Hindi biographical film Dangal is loosely based on his life.

Mahavir Singh Phogat was awarded the Dronacharya Award by the Government of India in 2016.^[4][5] He is the father and coach of Geeta Phogat,^[6][7] who won India's first gold medal in women's wrestling in the 55 kg freestyle category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the first Indian woman wrestler to have qualified for the Olympics, and Babita Kumari, who won a bronze medal at the 2012 World Wrestling Championships,^[8] and won the gold medal in 2014 Commonwealth Games.^[9] Phogat's niece, Vinesh Phogat, was also a Commonwealth Games gold medalist and also won gold medal at Asian games 2018.^[10][11]

Personal life

Phogat was born in Bhiwani district of Haryana.^[6][12] and hails from Balali in Charkhi Dadri district.^[13] He is married to Daya Shobha Kaur and has four daughters, Geeta, Babita, Ritu, and Sangita respectively. As a foster father, he also took care of his nieces Vinesh and Priyanka, children of his brother who was killed in a land dispute. All the 6 Phogats are trained in wrestling by Mahavir. While Geeta, Babita and Vinesh are international players, Ritu has won a gold medal at the national championship and Priyanka and Sangeeta have won medals in age-level international championships.

Popular culture

Biographical film

Main article: Dangal (2016 film)

The Indian biographical film Dangal is based on Singh's life and the journey of his daughters towards success. Aamir Khan plays the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat, while Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra play the roles of his daughters Geeta and Babita respectively. ^{[14][15][16][17]}

Honours

Mahavir Singh receiving the Dronacharya Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in August 2016

National Honours

• 2016 – Dronacharya Award

Book

Main article: Akhada: The Authorized Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat

Akhada is the authorised biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler and a coach. The book is penned by sports journalist Sourabh Duggal and was released on 21 December 2016 at the Chandigarh Press Club.^[18] It traces Mahavir Phogat's journey with his daughters and nieces hailing from a small village in Haryana to winning the medals for the country.^[19]

References

1. "Mahavir Singh Phogat". Zee News. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
2. "Mahavir Singh Phogat : Read Mahavir Singh Phogat Latest News, Photos, Videos Online on Midday". Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
3. "Meet Mahavir Singh Phogat the fascinating wrestler who inspired, Publication: Huffington Post newsportal; Published on: 21 October 2016; Accessed on: 6 March 2017". Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
4. "National Sports Awards – 2016". pib.gov.in. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
5. "Film Dangal is wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat's biography - Aamir plays Mahavir". Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
6. Basu, Hindol (14 June 2015). "The hero behind 'Dangal' | Chandigarh News". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
7. "Wrestling coach Mahavir Phogat overlooked for Dronacharya Award". Mid Day. 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
8. "Babita clinches bronze in World Championships". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
9. "JSW Sports Excellence Program Wrestling". www.jsw.in. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
10. Gupta, Gargi (10 August 2014). "Meet the medal winning Phogat sisters". DNA India. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
11. "But hey, this is family..." The Times of India. 31 July 2010. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
12. "Geeta Phogat's Real Life Journey From Akhada To CWG Gold Is More Inspiring Than Dangal". IndiaTimes. 26 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
13. "Aamir Khan promises to attend his 'Dangal' 'daughter' Geeta Phogat's wedding". Deccan Chronicle. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
14. "Aamir Khan to play Mahavir Phogat in Dangal, meets his wrestler daughters Geeta and Babita". The Times of India. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
15. "This is how Aamir is preparing for his role in Dangal". Hindustan Times. 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
16. "Aamir Khan now on a new diet for 'Dangal' - Bollywood News". IndiaGlitz.com. 1 February 2016. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
17. "Mahavir Singh Phogat Who Inspired A* amir Khan for 'Dangal". Archived from the original on 25 October 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
18. "Man who inspired 'Dangal' releases his biography 'Akhada' in Chandigarh". 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
19. "Akhada: The Authorised Biography of Mahavir Singh Phogat" Archived 22 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, written by Saurabh Duggal