By MMA in India is still very new, but new fighters keep showing up; one name that always comes to mind after listening indian women MMA fighters is Ritu Phogat. She totally smashed expectations to become one of the biggest success stories in Indian MMA.
That might sound like a huge exaggeration, but it’s honestly the truth. Coming from the famous Mahavir Phogat family, the real-life inspiration behind the hit movie Dangal, her success comes straight from a legendary family of wrestling champions.
For a while, Ritu was just that, an outstanding wrestler with credentials to match her sisters, Geeta and Babita. However, wrestling is unforgiving, and Ritu understood that at a young age, unlike most freestyle wrestlers. Soon enough, she made her way to the MMA world.
In this blog, we will explore her inspiring journey, biggest career moments, personal life, and financial success.
Her Early Life and Wrestling Roots
Ritu Phogat was born on May 2, 1994, in Balali, Haryana. She started athletic training when she was just eight years old. She was guided strictly by her father, Mahavir Singh Phogat and she quickly learned the art of wrestling.
Before she made the change in her career, she had already achieved amazing success on the wrestling mat:
- 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship: She won a great gold medal in Singapore.
- 2017 World Under-23 Wrestling Championship: She made history by being the Indian woman to win a silver medal at the event in Poland.
- National Wrestling Championships: She won over and again in local tournaments.
Even though she was on the path to go to the Olympic Games her strong desire pushed her toward something completely new for Indian women: the MMA cage.
How Ritu Phogat Became The Indian Tigress
Back in 2019, Ritu Phogat did something that surprised everyone in India. She left wrestling to join ONE Championship, which is a really big MMA league in Singapore.
She went to Singapore to train at Evolve MMA. This is where she learned skills like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and striking. She wanted to mix these skills with her great wrestling skills.
Ritu Phogat had her MMA fight in November 2019. It was a success. She won the fight by TKO in the first round. People loved watching her fight because she was so fearless. They even gave her a nickname, “The Indian Tigress.”
She quickly became an MMA star in India. She beat some opponents like Meng Bo and Lin Heqin. Her biggest moment came in 2021. This is when she reached the final of the ONE Womens Atomweight World Grand Prix. Even though she lost the final to Stamp Fairtex, Ritu Phogat proved that Ritu Phogat and other Indian fighters can take on fighters from around the world. Ritu Phogat showed everyone what she is capable of.
Ritu Phogat Net Worth
Ritu Phogat has earned a lot of money through her victories in the cage and her popularity in India. It is difficult to pinpoint a specific figure, but experts think she is worth between $1 million and $2 million (about ₹8 to ₹16 Crore).
- Matches: Ritu is paid for every match she wins in ONE Championship. She also gets extra bonuses for doing very well in her fights.
- Brand Deals: Large fitness and lifestyle companies pay her to advertise their products because she has many followers on the internet.
- TV Shows: She earns money from appearing on television, including the reality show The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.
- Government Awards: She has also received cash prizes and grants from the government for winning medals in wrestling, like her Commonwealth Gold.
Ritu Phogat’s Personal Life
Ritu’s life isn’t all just about fighting; she has a really happy family life, too! In November 2022, she tied the knot with a lawyer named Sachin Chhikara in a sweet, quiet wedding.
Then, in June 2024, they welcomed a baby boy into the world! Being a top athlete and a new mom at the same time is definitely no walk in the park. But Ritu showed so much courage by getting right back into the sport after having her baby. With her family cheering her on every step of the way, she’s a total inspiration to moms everywhere who want to chase their own dreams.
What’s Next for the Indian Tigress?
Even though she has had a tough run of matches lately, Ritu’s story is far from over. Moving on from ONE Championship gives her a fresh start to conquer new fighting leagues around the world.
Ritu is a force to be reckoned with and someone who single-handedly got India talking about mixed martial arts. Her biggest dream is simple: to bring an MMA World Championship belt back home to India and put the country on the global fighting map. With her famous fighting family background and the heart of a true champion, it would be a big mistake to count the Indian Tigress out.
