Ritu Phogat

Ritu Kumari Phogat, is an Indian athlete known for her accomplishments in both wrestling and mixed martial arts (MMA). Ritu's wrestling career is marked by significant achievements, including winning three Indian national championships. Her international breakthrough came in 2016 when she clinched the gold medal at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in Singapore in the 48 kg category. The following year, she made history by winning a silver medal at the World Under-23 Wrestling Championships in Poland, becoming the first female Indian wrestler to achieve this feat. This success positioned her as a strong contender for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but Ritu surprised the wrestling community by announcing her transition to mixed martial arts.

Hailing from the renowned Phogat family, she has followed in the footsteps of her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat, a legendary wrestling coach, and her famous siblings, who have all made significant marks in the world of wrestling. Ritu's journey began at the tender age of eight, and she eventually chose to leave school to dedicate herself fully to her wrestling career.

In 2019, Ritu signed with ONE Championship, marking the beginning of her MMA career. Her early MMA career was marked by impressive victories, including a TKO win against Nou Srey Pov at ONE Championship: Inside the Matrix in October 2020, and another TKO win due to elbows against Jomary Torres at ONE Championship: Big Bang in December 2020.

In the Grand Prix, she secured a notable victory against Meng Bo in the quarterfinals and advanced to the semi-finals by defeating Jenelyn Olsim after the original opponent, Itsuki Hirata, withdrew due to illness.

Ritu's journey in the Grand Prix culminated in the finals at ONE: Winter Warriors in December 2021, where she faced Stamp Fairtex.