The state wrestling championship is currently taking place in 2024, and a newcomer competing for the first time is causing quite a stir among the seasoned wrestlers. I witnessed the match right before my eyes. For me, this is the first live wrestling event happening in Behala. I've always watched wrestling on TV and YouTube, but experiencing it live is truly incredible. The opponent is a seasoned state wrestler who has been turned and pressed onto her back. The winning girl has her in a tight headlock, squeezing her on the mat. The opponent's face is turning red as she struggles helplessly to escape. She is being pinned down by a newcomer. The girl who found herself helplessly pinned has tears in her eyes. In front of an audience of 200, she gazed at the sky while being tightly embraced and pinned to the mat by a newcomer, Puja Paul, who is on her way to becoming a wrestling star from her district. I witnessed the emergence of a star, shaped by her wrestling mentors. Puja Paul, a schoolgirl with a passion for professional kabaddi at the district level, has recently developed an interest in wrestling. She has been on the mat for just over a year and has already earned 3 silver medals and 2 bronze medals in various state and district-level competitions. She has also made her way to the nationals.

Wrestling is an increasingly popular sport in India, and in West Bengal, it is gaining traction among both boys and girls. I was genuinely amazed by the level of energy, dedication, commitment, and strength displayed by teenage girls from the outskirts of West Bengal, particularly from Nadia district, Habra district, and Murshidabad district. Many girls from rural areas dominate the mat, pinning their opponents. In wrestling, a swift turn, a snatch, and a perfect flip can change the game, leaving your opponent helplessly beneath you, waiting to be pinned. I had a personal conversation with Puja Paul, and she shared with me, “Wrestling is a mental game, followed by stamina, technique, and ultimately strength. Whenever I flip an opponent girl and get her on the mat with her back down, I look directly into her eyes. It shatters the opponent's mindset to fight back. It makes the opponent feel completely dominated, helpless, and ready to give up. There’s no escape. The victim's right hand is secured in my left armpit, and her neck is held in my bicep. I perform a cross-face chest-to-chest pin with a low centre of gravity. I enjoy watching my opponent struggle before they finally concede.” I listened to her words, feeling goosebumps. Puja practices at the Bedhua dam, which serves as a wrestling academy. Her wrestling coach is Sudarshan Bala. She adheres to a strict diet and engages in intense wrestling training four days a week, including Saturdays and Sundays. Strict discipline and sharp focus are essential. I first noticed Puja during her match against three-time state champion Aishani Singha Roy, where she was pinned. I had no idea that this girl, who was pinned, would eventually excel so much in wrestling. In Nadia, coach Sudarshan Bala has trained numerous aspiring wrestlers, one of whom is Toufika Riya Moullik. Toufika is another emerging star in the wrestling scene from Nadia. She has an impressive collection of 5 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals, along with 4 Gold medals at the district level. Riya made it to the top 15 in national wrestling tournaments. To support her daughter's dreams, Riya's mother sold her gold jewellery so that Riya could compete in state wrestling. Riya achieved her first headlock pin and has been steadily improving and shining ever since. She was the first girl wrestler to be invited to the TV show SUN Bangla. Her journey has inspired many village girls who have dreams in their eyes and passion in their hearts. A FACEBOOK page called UNTOLD showcased Toufika's wrestling journey on social media, which quickly went viral across the internet. Soon after, SUN BANGLA Channel invited her to appear on their show, which was broadcast on SUN Bangla television. Toufika has become a symbol of hope for teenage girls who aspire to excel in wrestling. Shortly thereafter, PICE EDUCARE sponsored her wrestling journey, and she became their ambassador. I had the opportunity to interact with her. I witnessed Toufika's match live in 2024, where she effortlessly pinned a senior opponent in a tight neck hug grip. Toufika's headlock is truly inescapable. I was fortunate to have the chance to connect with Toufika as well. Toufika embodies a never-give-up attitude, whether on the wrestling mat or in life. Her mother is her first guru and mentor. She shared with me, “A girl must wrestle in life against all odds, especially if she aims to challenge traditional norms. In 2023, despite facing numerous objections, I began my wrestling journey with the Nadia Wrestling Association. I have been dragged, beaten, and pinned on the mat by formidable opponents, but through it all, I have emerged stronger. Now, I possess the skill and stamina to pin larger girls with my neck-hug headlocks. “

Toufika engages in intense training five days a week, adhering to a strict diet and a demanding training schedule. Her flexibility, endurance, stamina, agility, and technique render her an unbeatable wrestler at the state level within her weight class. Discussing the challenges she faced, her friends never acknowledged her efforts; however, now that she has gained fame, people have begun to recognise her. The path to success is often rough, bumpy, uneven, and exhausting, but when one reaches a significant milestone, the journey becomes memorable. Life will invariably try to keep you down, but it is up to you to determine how you recover. There exists another state champion star wrestler, Aishani Singha Roy, who is nearly invincible in state championships, competing vigorously in national-level tournaments. She has accumulated numerous medals at both the state and district levels. Her coach, Sri Asit Kumar Saha, is regarded as one of the finest wrestling coaches in West Bengal. Aishani stated that a combination of strength, technique, and the appropriate skill set leads to success. Wrestling is an underrated sport in West Bengal, a state where cricket and football are prioritised. Cricket tournaments are held on every street, at every corner, and in every ground, yet wrestling remains overlooked. However, champions are forged from a different element, one that embodies perseverance and resilience.

In West Bengal, girls from villages possess an inner drive to achieve something significant, igniting a spark of passion that fuels their determination. To conclude a wrestling match, a girl must pin her opponent by ensuring both of their shoulders touch the mat. This is referred to as a pinfall in wrestling. I witnessed a match in 2024 in Behala, Kolkata, during the West Bengal state wrestling meet. A senior girl was leading by 3 points when her opponent managed to throw her onto the mat and secured a tight grip around her neck. The opponent appeared devastated, helpless, and filled with anger. She pressed her chin against her rival's neck while firmly wrapping her arms around her neck and shoulders. I could see the desperate struggle reflected in the eyes of the girl who was losing, as she gazed up at the sky in despair. Ultimately, the match ended in a pinfall. The victorious girl was a teenager in her first year of wrestling, her smile radiating with triumph, her eyes sparkling, and her lips forming a bright poker face as she kissed the air, immersed in her victory. This was Riya Toufika Moullik. That was the first occasion I witnessed her wrestling live. Observing Dangal unfold before my eyes, it felt as though characters were emerging directly from the silver screen, with actions occurring right in front of me. Someone has aptly stated that truth is more powerful than fiction. I experienced a legacy, a star meticulously prepared to dominate the mat in the future. Every star once took their initial steps toward their aspiration of becoming a legend someday. In a similar vein, I observed Puja Paul during a tournament in Nadia, where a senior wrestler found herself ensnared in a grapevine lock by the seemingly innocent wrestler, Puja Paul. Puja wore a smile while her opponent appeared utterly helpless, ensnared. In a grapevine manoeuvre, Puja ensnares one of her opponent's legs by intricately weaving her leg around it. Subsequently, she secures her opponent's hand around her neck and pulls the opponent's neck sideways within her grip. The opponent is left completely powerless while Puja continues to smile.

This narrative is not solely about Toufika, Puja, or Aishani; it encompasses the experiences of all girls who grapple with their aspirations, holding onto the hope that one day they will excel and bring us pride. Their small eyes gleam with the dream of one day embracing the medal they will earn for India. They will engage in headlocks against competitors from the USA and the UK on an international wrestling stage. The girl, who is trapped while her opponent watches, will see the Indian flag emblazoned on the chest of the winner. This narrative will serve as an inspiration to many, not just in the realm of sports, but across all professions, as it reflects reality; the individuals involved are genuine, and their aspirations are authentic.

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