Latest news with #RituPhogat
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Motherhood is a strength': How 'mere paas maa hai' legacy lives on in Indian sports
Koneru Humpy with her daughter, Ritu Phogat with her son NEW DELHI: In the Amitabh Bachchan-starrer movie "Deewar," there's a famous dialogue from the lead protagonist Vijay, who flaunts his wealth and asks his younger brother Ravi (Shashi Kapoor), a principled police officer: " Aaj mere paas building hai, property hai, bank balance hai, bangla hai, gaadi hai... tumhare paas kya hai? (Today I have buildings, property, a bank balance, a bungalow, a car... Operation Sindoor Armed forces maintaining strong vigil after Pak ceasefire breach: MEA Pakistan violates ceasefire: Loud explosions, sirens haunt J&K- what we know so far Behind the scenes of ceasefire: Calls from Pakistan, Washington what do you have?)" Ravi calmly replies, ' Mere paas maa hai. (I have my mother.)" Today is their day: Mother's Day. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! As India sees a new generation of athletes rise -- like Gukesh Dommaraju, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi in chess, or Anahat Singh and Maaya Rajeshwaran in racquet sports -- mothers remain the constant support. Whether it's travelling with them or handling daily ifs and buts, it's often the mothers who stand silently behind their children's success, juggling different roles of caretaker, motivator, and manager. While these youngsters sweat it out on court or board, a mother's watchful eyes on the sidelines feel the heat. But have you ever paused to think: what's it like on that side of the spectrum? "I always feel motherhood is a strength," says Koneru Humpy during an exclusive chat with . "It's quite a challenging job: balancing my career and motherhood. I miss my daughter Ahana a lot, especially during long tournaments that last 15–20 days. Thankfully, she's very close to her grandparents and enjoys staying with them, so I'm fortunate she gets the love and attention she needs," she says. Humpy became a mother in 2017. After taking a break, she returned to competitive chess in 2018. "When I came back to chess, practice and preparation were there, but I had become a much tougher person. Raising a child meant sleepless nights. I learned I'm even capable of doing the work without having proper food," she recalls. 'Earlier, even small issues would affect my performance. But motherhood changed that. It made me mentally stronger.' She smiles, remembering her comeback: 'I still recall winning the 2019 World Rapid Championship, even though I hadn't played for nearly a year and a half.' Humpy, who is standing for the many mothers who carry ambition in one hand and love in the other, says. "It cannot make you sidestep your profession." Meanwhile, India's Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter Ritu Phogat echoes Koneru's sentiments when it comes to balancing motherhood with a demanding athletic career, where support becomes paramount. "There are definitely challenges. They say when a woman becomes a mother, it's like she is reborn, and it's true. Getting your body back into athletic form is the toughest part. Every mother faces such challenges. I also faced them: nursing the baby, not getting enough sleep at night ... but when you have a supportive family and husband, it helps a lot," says MMA fighter Ritu Phogat Ritu, 31, gave birth to a baby boy in April 2024. Now eyeing a comeback ahead of MMA's debut at the 2026 Asian Games, Ritu accepts that motherhood is not all about toil as she penned on her son's first birthday: "It's been 365 days of love, laughter, and endless joy. Happy 1st birthday, my sweet prince! A year ago, you came into our lives and filled it with endless sunshine." READ ALSO: Indian farm girl who picked up gun at 13, now recovering Olympic heartbreak: The Maheshwari Chauhan story
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'No help from government, no awards, no support': MMA in Asian Games 2026 sparks serious concern
MMA to make debut in Asian Games 2026 NEW DELHI: Last week, a landmark announcement confirmed that Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) will make its debut at the 2026 Asian Games . The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) revealed that six medal events will be contested in MMA, which will take place in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4 next year. India clinched 107 medals, its best-ever, during the Hangzhou Asian Games. It put them in fourth place on the medals tally, behind China (383 medals), Japan (188), and South Korea (190). Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! MMA, with its growing popularity and competitive potential, could play a role in reducing that gap. But, as of now, it's far from a level playing field. "It feels really good that MMA is finally in the Asian Games. But now the government needs to step in, and sponsors must come forward. Currently, there are no awards for Indian athletes, no government support, we fund our own training," Indian MMA star Ritu Phogat said. The issue goes far beyond just money, awards, or support. Currently, India lacks a federation to govern MMA, a sport that blends multiple combat disciplines. While several bodies exist, such as MMA India, the Mixed Martial Arts Federation of India (MMAFI), and the Federation of MMA India (FMMAI), none are officially recognised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). "I really hope the government takes quick action to form a proper federation that supports athletes. And they should begin the selection process quickly so that selected athletes can get proper training," Ritu added. "Right now, India doesn't have a proper training centre or good coaches. So they should be sent abroad where there are better facilities to prepare for the Asian Games." Coming from a family with deep wrestling roots, Ritu Phogat, the youngest daughter of Mahavir Singh Phogat and a gold medallist at the 2016 Commonwealth Wrestling Championship, switched to MMA after being inspired by videos of legendary fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov. But her journey in the hexagon has not been easy. "It's been full of ups and downs, struggles, and it still is because there's no proper centre for MMA in India. Now I have a one-year-old baby, so I have to think about where to train, how to manage time, and the expenses of living, eating, and training," the 31-year-old said. Her wrestling background, nevertheless, has been an asset. "Wrestling gives you an advantage in MMA, controlling your opponent on the ground, takedowns, etc. That really helped me," she explained. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 4: Prof. Ratnakar Shetty on BCCI, cricket politics & Indian cricket's growth Echoing Ritu's concerns is Puja Tomar , the first Indian to win a fight in the UFC. A top-level athlete may need to spend Rs 1.5-2 lakh per month to stay competitive. "MMA really requires a lot of money. For example, when I was doing Wushu, the government covered all my expenses," she said. "So if you have a background in boxing or something similar, then it's manageable. But if you're starting MMA directly from zero, then financially it becomes very difficult. However, if you have a background in boxing, Wushu, or wrestling, then somehow you manage to survive." ALSO READ: 'My parents didn't want another girl, they left me to die': First Indian to win UFC fight Puja Tomar With just over a year to go for the 2026 Asian Games, the ticking of the clock has begun. Without a structured support system in place, India's MMA athletes risk being left behind, potentially costing the country's medal hopes.
