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Image source: StarsUnfolded

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Babita Kumari Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth20 November 1989

Age35 Years

BirthplaceBhiwani, Haryana, India

ProfessionFreestyle Wrestler, Politician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseVivek Suhag

FamilyFather: Mahavir Singh Phogat; Mother: Shobha Kaur; Siblings: Geeta Phogat, Sangita Phogat, Ritu Phogat, Dushyant Phogat

Babita Kumari Biography

Babita Kumari Phogat is an Indian freestyle wrestler turned politician from Haryana. A multiple-time Commonwealth medallist and Arjuna Award recipient, she

Early life and background

Babita Kumari Phogat was born on 20 November 1989 in Bhiwani, Haryana, and grew up in the village of Balali. She is one of the children of Mahavir Singh Phogat and Shobha Kaur and trained under her father, who coached her from a young age. Babita and her sisters trained in akharas across neighbouring villages before attending the National Sports Academy in Patiala.

Career

Babita emerged as one of India’s leading female wrestlers in the 53–55 kg weight classes. Her international career includes a breakthrough silver medal at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and subsequent medals across Commonwealth and world events. She won gold at the 2009 Jalandhar Commonwealth Wrestling Championships (51 kg), gold at the 2011 Melbourne Commonwealth Wrestling Championships (48 kg), bronze at the 2012 Strathcona County World Wrestling Championships (51 kg), bronze at the 2013 Asian Wrestling Championship (55 kg), and gold at both the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (55 kg). In 2012 she became the second Indian woman to win a medal at the world championships, following her sister Geeta.

Babita qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, joining the small group of Indian female wrestlers to reach the Games, though she was eliminated in the first round. For her sporting achievements she received the Arjuna Award in 2015. The Haryana government also offered her a post as Sub Inspector in recognition of her 2010 Commonwealth performance, and she later sought promotion to deputy superintendent of police under the sports quota, filing a petition that was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Politics and public life

In August 2019 Babita and her father joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. She contested the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections from the Dadri constituency as a BJP candidate but did not win. She has also taken part in Indian television entertainment, appearing with Vivek Suhag on the dance reality show Nach Baliye 9 in 2019.

Public profile

The story of Babita and her family entered popular culture with the 2016 film Dangal, which dramatized her father’s role in coaching his daughters; Babita was portrayed onscreen by Sanya Malhotra (and Suhani Bhatnagar as her younger self). The film raised the public profile of the Phogat sisters and brought wider attention to their challenge of local gender norms in Haryana.

Personal life

Babita married fellow wrestler Vivek Suhag on 1 December 2019 in Balali, Haryana. She comes from a wrestling family: her siblings include Geeta Phogat, Sangita Phogat, Ritu Phogat and brother Dushyant Phogat, and her father Mahavir Singh Phogat is a noted coach. Babita is known to be a fitness enthusiast, enjoys music, travel and cooking, and is fond of animals. She follows a non-vegetarian diet.

Controversies and notable incidents

In May 2018 Babita and several family members were removed from a national training camp by the Wrestling Federation of India for failing to report to the camp within the stipulated time, an action described by officials as disciplinary. She also underwent a hand operation shortly before the trials for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and still went on to win a silver medal at that tournament.

Latest updates

After entering politics in 2019 and contesting state elections, Babita has remained a public figure through media appearances and social media activity. She continues to be associated with fitness initiatives and maintains a visible presence as both a sportsperson and a politician.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Babita Kumari, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

Contested 2019 Haryana Assembly Elections (Dadri constituency)

Ran as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate; was not elected.

2019
Nach Baliye 9

Participated in the dance reality show with Vivek Suhag.

2019
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Career Highlights

  1. Silver medal — 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games (51 kg)
  2. Gold medal — 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games (55 kg)
  3. Gold medal — 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (55 kg)
  4. Bronze medal — 2012 World Wrestling Championships (51 kg)
  5. Arjuna Award recipient (2015)
  6. Qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Babita Kumari born?

20 November 1989

What is Babita Kumari known for?

Freestyle Wrestler, Politician

What is Babita Kumari’s marital status?

Married

Who is Babita Kumari married to?

Vivek Suhag