Meenakshi Goyat, a 10-year-old girl from Haryana, used to run around her home in a t-shirt featuring WWE icon John Cena. Now, fifteen years later, she is making her mark in the world of wrestling. On Thursday, she advanced to the title match against Jin Zhang from China in the 53-kg category at the Asian Wrestling Championships, a weight class recognized for the Olympics.
During the tournament, Meenakshi showcased her skills by decisively defeating Sabkibjamal Esbosynova from Uzbekistan and Seoyoung Park from South Korea. Her journey into wrestling began when her father, Prem Goyat, noticed her admiration for professional wrestling after she watched WWE on television. “She became a huge fan of John Cena and expressed her desire to wrestle like him,” Prem shared with the Indian Express.
At that time, Prem was unaware of the significant differences between professional wrestling and the sport Meenakshi would pursue. He and his daughter began searching for wrestling training facilities. “None of us in the family, including my father, who was a farmer, had any experience or knowledge about wrestling,” Meenakshi recalled after her trials for the Asian Championships.
Eventually, the family discovered Nidani Sports Hostel, known for producing Olympians, and sent Meenakshi there to train when she was just 12 years old. Prem reflected on the moment he dropped her off, remembering she was a mere 26 kg at the time. “Every Sunday, a bus would go to the akhada, and I would sometimes take fruits and milk for her or give them to other kids going there,” he said.
While Meenakshi was developing her wrestling skills, her family faced a significant challenge: her mother was diagnosed with cancer. “With my wife’s illness, I had no choice but to keep Meenakshi at the akhada for a long period,” Prem stated. This rigorous training ultimately paid off when Meenakshi began to earn accolades, winning gold medals at both the 2016 Sub-junior Nationals and the 2018 Junior Nationals.
However, in 2019, disaster struck during a bout at the U-23 Nationals in Guwahati when she slipped on a wet mat, leading to a serious leg injury. “The doctors warned that she might struggle to walk again. She spent over six months in bed, watching others compete and win while feeling disappointed about her situation,” Prem recounted.
After her recovery, Meenakshi returned to the mat weighing 68 kg and struggled to regain her former agility. “She was determined to get back into competition as soon as possible. She managed to lose nearly 10 kg quickly and improved her mobility,” her father explained. “Within a year, she became the national champion at the 2021 Nationals.”
Following her success in the 50 kg category, Meenakshi moved up to the 53 kg division but faced challenges due to the presence of established wrestlers like Vinesh Phogat and Antim Panghal. Last month, she gained recognition by defeating two-time World Championships medalist Antim during the trials. Yet, before the Asian Championship trials, Meenakshi felt apprehensive due to her past losses. “I have participated in numerous international competitions as a junior but very few as a senior. I often lost in trials, particularly to Antim, which added pressure,” she reflected after the trial.
Despite the pressure, her family and coach Ajay Malik provided essential support and encouragement. “My father and brother consistently motivated me, reminding me of my talent and hard work,” she expressed. Malik, who has trained Meenakshi at the Kuldeep Malik Academy in Sonepat since 2019, advised her to stay calm leading up to the final. “I told her to trust in the training she has done over the years,” Malik stated.
With her newfound confidence and determination, Meenakshi stands on the brink of securing her first senior gold medal at an international championship.
Pritish Raj is part of the sports team at The Indian Express, reporting from New Delhi.
