EXCLUSIVE | ‘Olympic medal nahi, Olympic gold’: Manisha Bhanwal’s promise to her late father

NEW DELHI: “Bhai saab, Jind je Pandavon ki nagari hai, kuch to baat to hogi (Jind is the land of the Pandavas. There must be something special about it)”Manisha Bhanwala said these words with a smile a day after creating history at the World Wrestling Championship on Friday. The wrestler from Jindu, Haryana has just become the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the World Championships.Maybe there is something special about this city – Elsewhere. Manisha is not the only athlete from Jind who has done the country proud this year.Exactly a month ago, another daughter of the city, Neeru Dhanda, won gold in trap shooting at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. She became the first Indian woman to win an individual gold medal at the Asian Games in trap shooting.Jind has a deep connection with the stories of the Mahabharata. According to local belief, the Pandavas built a temple dedicated to the goddess Jainti Devi before going to war against the Kauravas. They prayed to the goddess and sought her blessings for victory. The city was originally known as Jaintapuri, meaning the abode of Goddess Jainti Devi. Over time the name became Jind.And now Manisha has added another proud chapter to the story of this city.But for the 59kg wrestler, the biggest moment of her life was also deeply personal.When she won the gold medal, she didn’t celebrate alone. She kept a medal and a photo of her late father next to her pillow. Before going to bed, she called her mother and brother via video. Before kissing her father’s photograph, she had one more moment with the man whose memories and teachings continue to guide her.Her father might not have been there to witness her historic achievement, but Manisha made sure he was a part.The wrestler often spoke about the lessons she learned from the Bhagavad Gita through her father. He believes in the principle of karma – doing your duty and leaving the result to God. He follows that in his life and carries that same belief onto the wrestling mat.

Manisha Bhanwala (Image credit: WFI)

This belief was tested in the World Championship finals in Astana, Kazakhstan. Manisha trailed American wrestler Abigail Nette by six points in the women’s 59kg final. But she refused to give up. She put up a great fight, won 8-6 and won the gold medal.With this victory, Manisha became the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships. She is only the second Indian to do so overall, after the legendary Sushil Kumar, who won the men’s 66kg title in 2010.TimesofIndia.com spoke to Astana’s Manisha about her rousing return to the finals, celebrating with a t-shirt featuring her father’s photo, wrestling Iran-style, her belief in karma and her dream of winning gold at the Los Angeles Olympics.Manisha, what was going through your mind during the finale? You were behind and then all of a sudden you were in the lead. What did you do to turn things around? In such situations, there are times when things can go either way.I was on my heels. When I went to the starting point, I felt that only one point was recorded, so why were they giving the opportunity at that time? Even then I challenged the decision, but they still awarded the points. I objected, but my challenge was rejected. Even after that I felt I could do it. I had that feeling.I haven’t experienced good Asian games. I was getting very frustrated. Doubts also crossed my mind. Did I do something wrong? That was something I asked myself as I closed my eyes for a few seconds. Was my practice bad? Many things were going through my head, but I believed I could do it. I felt it inside that I could turn things around. And I did it.Have you ever encountered a similar situation before?Yes. I faced the same situation in Asia Championship 2025. I was losing but I was able to come back and win the match.What move did you use to turn things in your favor at Worlds?My wrestling style is different from other girls. I wrestle a bit like an Iranian style. The way I train is also different. The last five years have been focused on being able to do anything in the first three minutes. But then it’s about maintaining patience, perseverance and strength. I also work on being mentally strong and excited. I am working on all these things.

Manisha Bhanwala (Image credit: WFI)

If you dominate the first two to three minutes, the match is yours. After that, it’s just about your patience and analyzing your opponent. If you are behind you will struggle to score and in most cases you will lose your patience and focus and eventually the match.You mentioned the Iranian style. Could you explain a bit?It takes a lot of strength to develop the kind of strength that Iranian wrestlers have. I’m a bit shorter in comparison so I have to try harder. I practice with the boys first. If I get injured, I might have to stay away for two days. So I try to do everything I can. Even though I have pain anywhere in my body, I am completing my healing. I spend the whole day recovering and only then come back. I take care of my body as much as possible.What do you say to your sparring partners when you hit the mat in training?I train with multiple partners, including boys. They help me generate more power. After the selection or at the camps, when it is clear which wrestlers will go, we train with the selected ones. My coach and I tell them what needs to be done and what kind of practice is required. We create a specific plan and follow it.Who is your inspiration?My father sahab. My whole life is dedicated to my father sahab. He was such a sweet soul. He was not literate. He never went to school but he always supported me throughout my journey. There were taunts like, ‘Ladki hai, padha likha le, shaadi kar de.’ But he never listened to them. That was my father.Thanks to him, I am what I am today. I miss her so much. But I still feel like he’s still sitting next to me. He is always there to applaud, motivate and cheer me on whenever I hit the mat. I feel like he’s always around.You pulled out that t-shirt with your dad’s photo on it when you won the gold medal.Like I said, she is everything to me. He was a farmer who plowed the field himself. We didn’t have much money. But I never learned how he met all my needs.

Manisha Bhanwala with her father and mother (Image credit: WFI)

what did he doMy father was a farmer. He used to work in the fields and operate the plow. He didn’t know anything about sports or anything like that. He was a farmer who never treated me differently because I was a girl. He never put any pressure on me about what I do or what I eat.Even today, I feel that such support is rare. Although he never went to school and could not read or write, he was an open minded person. He was a kind soul. He was very particular about his work. From childhood he taught me the meaning of karma. He taught me the right things at that time.Our family was not doing well financially. We were very poor. We didn’t even have our own land. He followed Gita and always asked me to follow her too.How did he arrange the money? Have you ever asked him?definitely not. He never made me feel like I was missing something. I’ll tell you something. Even today, I don’t know how my father managed everything. He worked day and night.When I started wrestling in 2015, I needed wrestling shoes. I once said, ‘Dad, I’m wrestling for the chahiye shoe.’ He kept his hand on my head with a smile and said, ‘Haan, ho jayega, dikat koi nahi hai.’ Within a few days he gave me shoes worth Rs 7000. These were very expensive at the time.But from day one he always made sure I had good things. He never made me feel like I was missing something. I never asked him how he came up with those things and he never told me.When I went to school, the teachers would ask me what my father did. When I told them he was a farmer, sometimes they found it hard to believe that my father was a farmer.what happened to him?In 2022, when I was selected for my first championship, my father was very excited. I defeated Sakshi Malik thrice. I did really well. I also defeated Sangeeta Phogat.My father became excited to see his dream come true. That night when I was selected for the Asian Championship was completely cool. In the afternoon he was told to go to bed. He didn’t wake up after that. He died of a heart attack. Eight years have passed since then, and that very evening I had a flight to the championship.How did you support yourself on that difficult night?I don’t know. I was numb. I lost the person I loved more than anything in this world. And that person was no longer with me. That night… I don’t know how to explain it. It was difficult to ask myself if I should maintain the feeling that my father was still with me.I had a flight to the Asian Championships that same night. I just sat in the corner. After the cremation, my mother said, ‘If you don’t pollute your father’s dream, who will?’ She said, “What are you going to do like this, come on, competition boy.”I came to Mongolia from India. I didn’t even realize how I traveled or how I got there. I don’t really remember that day. I don’t remember where I went, what day it was or what was going on around me. When I got back to the room after winning the bronze, I broke down.

Manisha Bhanwala (Image credit: WFI)

Who is in your family now?My mother, my brother, my sister-in-law and my nephew.Your brother was a kabaddi player. Why did you choose wrestling?My brother beat me a lot when we were kids. He used to fight me. I was little, so I was beaten and cried. My father sahab used to beat him. My father sahab said “Tu strong bann, pehelwaan ban, isko pitiyo bade hoke.”So I decided to become a wrestler.My brother also left kabaddi mid way for me. He said I should go ahead and that we would both do it together. He now stays at home and takes care of whatever work needs to be done. He takes care of the economy. We also have a pharmacy there, which he manages.You are training in Rohtak. Who manages these expenses?I’m from Jind. I have been living in a village in Rohťák for the last 10 years. I live in a rented house. I have no idea how my family manages these expenses. My father sahab and mother never told me. They always said, ‘Apne khel pe dhyan do’.Finished World Championship Gold, Finished Asian Championship Gold, Finished Grand Prix Gold. Now what next for Manisha?Olympic gold. I will do it for my father sahab. I’m sure of it. Wrestling and winning gold are two things that stay in my life. Apne father sahab ko samarpit hai dono ab.He always said, ‘Beta Olympiad medal jitenge ek din.’ Whenever he asked, I would say, ‘Pitaji, Olympic medals nahi, Olympic gold.’Manisha, there is a shooter from Jind named Neeru Dhanda. You must have heard of her?Yes. I know her. It’s from Jindo himself. She won gold at the Asian Games. Jind is the land of the Pandavas. Kuch toh baat hai iski hawa mein.My father sahab was a follower of Gita and believed in karma. He taught me to continue doing my karma. Just continue your work. Only God knows what you will get and what you will get. You actually get what you work for.