Babita Kumari
A trailblazing wrestler from a famous sporting family who helped bring Indian women's wrestling to global prominence.
Born 1989 (age 37)·Indian wrestler·Birthday: November 20·Millennials
Biography
Babita Kumari Phogat emerged from the wrestling mats of Haryana, a state where the sport was long considered a male domain. Alongside her sister Geeta, she was trained by their father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, whose rigorous methods were later popularized in film. Babita’s career is defined by her tenacity in the 51-55 kg categories, where her technical skill and mental fortitude shone. Her gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow was a crowning moment, cementing the Phogat sisters' legacy as pioneers. Beyond the medals, her journey, part of a larger family narrative, challenged deep-seated gender norms in Indian sports and inspired a generation of young women to see the wrestling arena as a place of their own.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Babita was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Babita Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Babita's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the 55 kg freestyle wrestling event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
- Secured a silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the 51 kg category.
- Earned another Commonwealth Games silver medal in 2018, competing in the 53 kg division.
- Became a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Haryana Police after retiring from active wrestling.
Did You Know?
Her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, is a former wrestler who famously trained his daughters in the absence of sons.
Her family's story was the inspiration for the hit Bollywood film 'Dangal', though the film primarily focused on her sister Geeta.
She is married to fellow wrestler Vivek Suhag.
She contested the 2019 Indian general election as a candidate for the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“My father used to say, 'If you want to do something, do it with full dedication, only then you will succeed.'”
