Indian Wrestler Pooja Dhanda will celebrate her 26th birthday on Wednesday (January 1, 2020). Born in Budana village of Hisar district in Haryana, Dhanda started out as a Judo player but switched to wrestling in 2009. The Haryana-born is one of the most decorated female wrestlers to represent India at any competition. Pooja Dhanda showed promise from a very young age as she bagged a silver medal in the girl’s freestyle 60kg event at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics at Singapore. On the occasion of Pooja Dhanda’s birthday, we take a look at some lesser-known facts about her. Vinesh Phogat Workout Regime: How Indian Wrestler Got Back in Shape After Staying Off The Mat For Three Years (Watch Videos).

Pooja Dhada debuted in the national championships in 2013, where she defeated one of the best wrestlers India has to offer in Babita Phogat. She has participated four times in the senior national championships and has emerged as champion on every occasion. In 2015, the wrestler suffered a serious injury as she damager her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during a practice session. Dhanda was in a rehabilitation phase for almost two years but after recovering from the injury she came out as a different beast, becoming national champion in 2017 and being selected for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Here Are Some Lesser Known Facts About Pooja Dhanda

  • Pooja Dhanda was born in Budana village of Hisar district in Haryana

  • She won a bronze medal in 2018 World Championships which was held in Budapest

  • Dhanda won a silver medal at the 2019 Commonwealth Games which was held in Gold Coast

  • Pooja started out as a Judo player before switching to wrestling in 2009

  • Before 2009, she had already bagged three international medals in Judo

  • In 2018, she defeated Geeta Phogat in Commonwealth Games selection trials

  • Pooja Dhanda was originally selected to play the role of Babita Phogat in Bollywood blockbuster Dangal

  • In August 2019, Pooja Dhanda Was Honoured With the Arjuna Award

In the third season of Pro Wrestling League, Dhanda was at her best as she defeated Olympic silver and bronze medallist Odunayo Adekuoroye of Nigeria and World Championship Silver medallist Marwa Amri of Tunisia. An Olympic gold medal may still elude her but the wrestler is on the right path to make her dream into a reality.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 01, 2020 08:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).