New Delhi, August 17: Gitika Jakhar is celebrated as one of India’s prominent female wrestlers. She began her wrestling journey at the young age of 13, inheriting the sport as a family legacy.
Gitika has showcased remarkable talent in both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, bringing glory to her country.
Born on August 18, 1985, in Agroha village, Hisar district, Haryana, Gitika grew up in a sports-oriented environment. Her grandfather was a wrestler, and her father served as a sports officer. This background ignited her passion for wrestling, leading her to step into the akhara for the first time at 13. By the age of 15, she had already claimed the title of Bharat Kesari, successfully defending it for nine consecutive years. After that, Gitika never looked back.
Her prowess was evident in the Commonwealth Championships of 2003 and 2005, where she won gold medals. In 2007, she secured a silver medal. For her outstanding performances in the National Games, Gitika was honored with the Bhim Award. In 2006, she became the first Indian woman wrestler to receive the Arjuna Award from the Indian government for her contributions to the sport.
Gitika also dominated the Asian Games, winning a silver medal in 2006 and a bronze in 2014. In 2007, she triumphed in both the National Games and Senior National Championship, earning gold medals. In 2009, she was awarded the Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award. By 2011, she became the youngest wrestler to win the National Championship. Her impressive performance at the 2014 Commonwealth Games earned her another silver medal. In 2019, while serving as Deputy Superintendent of Police in Haryana, she won a silver medal in the World Wrestling Games (Police) in the 60-kilogram category.