Geeta Phogat qualifies for London Olympics 2012

Woman wrestler Geeta Phogat qualifies for London Olympics 2012 on Sunday. Geeta created history by becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics after winning gold in the 55kg category at the Asian qualifying event in Astana, Kazakhstan. The 23-year-old beat South Korea’s Ji-eun Um to bag only the second gold for India at this edition of the event. She had also won gold at the Commonwealth Games 2010.

Hailing from a family of wrestlers, Geeta’s sisters, Babita and Mamta, have also represented India. Her win on Sunday, in a way, made up for the ignominy Babita had suffered in the run-up to the qualifiers. Babita, considered the most talented of the three sisters, had failed to clear the weigh-in at two international meets, following which she was dropped from the squad. Wrestler Geeta Phogat belongs to Balali village in Bhiwani district of Haryana.