The Impressive TimesNew Delhi, August 3 :Vaishnavi Patil, the daughter of a humble dhaba owner in Kalyan, Mumbai, is set to represent India at the World Wrestling Championships in Zagreb next month — a milestone that speaks volumes about her resilience, discipline, and raw talent.
Despite taking up mat wrestling only four years ago, Vaishnavi dominated the selection trials with her exceptional tactical sense and mat awareness, securing her place in the women’s 65kg category by defeating Muskan 7-2 in the final.
“I started mat wrestling at the end of 2020. Before that, I was doing only mud wrestling. Watching Sakshi Malik win at the Rio Olympics in 2016 inspired me to pursue this path,” Vaishnavi told PTI.
With limited training facilities in Maharashtra, Vaishnavi moved to Hisar to train under coach Jasbeer at the Sushil Kumar Akhada. The shift, while challenging, proved pivotal. “We convinced her to stay in Hisar full-time, and her progress since then has been remarkable,” Jasbeer said, praising her technical abilities and strong counter-attacks.
Initially a swimmer and state medalist, Vaishnavi switched to wrestling after attending a felicitation event and witnessing the admiration wrestlers received. A childhood dream of becoming a fighter pilot was cut short due to her poor eyesight, but her passion for serving the nation redirected her toward sports.
Her father, Dilip Patil, shared the family’s sacrifices: “I run a dhaba near our village bus stop, and all earnings go into Vaishnavi’s training. We live on farming income. Our bank balance is zero, but her dream keeps us going.”
Despite cultural differences between Maharashtra and Haryana, Vaishnavi has adapted to local customs, including dietary changes. “People here prefer milk and ghee, while I still take non-veg. But now, I even understand Haryanvi,” she laughs.
She idolizes Helen Maroulis, the decorated American wrestler and Olympic medalist, whose matches she studies online. Vaishnavi is determined to bring a medal home — from the World Championships, and ultimately, the Olympics.
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