Wrestler Geeta Phogat clearly lives for the day when she can make history. Sample this to understand her professional approach and commitment. “In real life I have conquered my worst fears by fighting and beating bigger wrestlers in dangal . So I am not afraid of anything. But if there is fear, I would put myself to test here,” says Geeta while talking how she sees the upcoming Khatron ka Khiladi as a contestant.
She is as excited talking about the show on Colors channel like she is while gearing up for a bout of kushti . But this time expectations from the Haryanvi girl are different as she became an overnight celebrity not only through her successive victories for India but also after Aamir Khan made a blockbuster on her father Mahavir Singh Phogat, who raised his girls in such a way that they could beat the best in business.
Like her game, Geeta believes in straight talk with no trace of giving sugar coated answers or concealing truths or indulging in prevarications. “Honestly, I have not done any preparation for
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Just as one is disillusioned with the answer, she says: “However, I am physically in top shape and am ready to face any danger or challenging task assigned to me. As I was keen to do this show, I even refused to take up a celebrity-based dance show offered to me. Later, I would think of attempting it but right now my priority is this one. I have watched episodes of this reality show and am familiar with the format of the show.”
Unlike wrestling, here one has to do stunts in cars or put one’s head in a pool of water filled with snakes. “I feel this show is all about mental preparation. Mentally, I am prepared to perform a car stunt or put my face inside water full of terrifying reptiles. No matter what the danger is, I would make an attempt in such tasks.”
She gives it to her training. “Thanks to my training in Balali village, I am rough and tough. I play an outdoor sport and here stunts are also mostly outdoors. So I feel I have an upper hand over others.”
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Any words of wisdom from her father Mahavir Singh Phogat? “My father did not tell me much. Only thing he told me was ‘if you have any fear then you have to get rid of it in this show.’ Maybe this show would help me become mentally stronger and a better wrestler.”
Geeta says she will follow her diet religiously in Spain. “Our training schedule is still the same. We do not eat two dozen almonds but consume200 almonds!” She promises that wrestling would be not given a miss. “Mat would not be there in Spain but I would continue my punishing schedule. I would not be carrying weights from Haryana with me as I have been assured of gym facility.”
With pugilist Vijender Singh turning professional, some feel Geeta might turn a pro-wrestler. “Right now I am continuing to win laurels for the country. In future, I might become a professional pehlwan . Wrestling is different from other sports. It is not just about physical strength. It is more of a mind game as during matches we have to read the mind of opponents and outwit them. Everybody does good training. How much we can give in a particular match seals our fate.”
Her husband, wrestler Pawan Kumar, is not accompanying her to Spain. “He is busy training at the national camp,” sums up the wrestler without betraying any emotion.