Ritu focussed on becoming mixed martial arts champion
New Delhi, February 12
Wrestler-turned-mixed martial arts fighter Ritu Phogat today said she might return to wrestling in future, but currently she’s focussed on putting in the hard yards to achieve her dream of becoming India’s first MMA world champion.
Ritu, who won a gold medal in the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships, won her debut MMA fight at the One: Age of Dragons event, beating South Korea’s Nam Hee Kim in just under three minutes.
The 25-year-old from Haryana will next feature in her second MMA bout on February 28 in Singapore. “I know I still have a long way to go, but I’m willing to work hard until I reach my goal. My dream is to give India its first ever mixed martial arts world champion,” she said ahead of her face-off with China’s Pro MMA fighter Wu Chiao Chen.
“As an athlete, I am open to meet any challenge head on. Working with world champions at Evolve in Singapore has really cultivated my combat skills and transformed me into a complete fighter,” she said.
Asked if she plans to return to wrestling, Ritu said: “Yes, definitely. My wrestling career has been a fantastic one but I wanted to do something new. When I decided to make the transition to mixed martial arts, I knew the risk and the rewards.”
“I knew the Olympics was scheduled in 2020, but I wanted to be an MMA champion. So when I got the opportunity, I didn’t let it go. Right now, I am focussed on this. So let’s see what lies in future,” Ritu added.
“My father also wanted me to make the country proud, so whether it is wrestling or mixed martial art, I would give everything to make my country proud,” she pointed.
On her cousin and World Championships bronze medallist Vinesh Phogat’s chances at the Tokyo Olympics, Ritu said: “Vinesh is doing really well and not only me but the whole country has this expectation that she becomes the country’s first female gold medallist in wrestling (at the Tokyo Games).” PTI
