India’s first woman sumo wrestler needs sponsors – Hetal Dave’s triumphs and trials
When girls her age were busy watching cartoons and playing house, five year old Hetal Dave was busy watching Jackie Chan movies. Hetal says, “Since childhood, I wanted to do something different”. Seeing his little girl’s unrelenting desire to do something like she saw her idol Chan do, Hetal’s father took her for a class to learn Karate. It so happened that day, the centre had a Judo class, “I call it destiny,” she says.
Today, Hetal is India’s first woman sumo wrestler. She played her first tournament at the age of seven. “I’ve faced too many defeats. If it were to be someone else, they would’ve given up the idea of even playing. But my hard work paid off and my career took a turn, and I continued.” Hetal has represented India in global sumo competitions and was placed fifth in the women’s middleweight category at the World Games in Taiwan.
Image source
Image source
Her parents and brother, Akshay have been with her every step of the way. Did she have the pressure to study? She breaks into a laugh and says, “While other kids were studying to get better marks, I was only focusing on
Hetal Dave (Sumo wrestler) Wiki, Age, Family, Biography & More
Hetal Dave is an Indian sumo wrestler. As of , she is India&#;s first and only female professional sumo wrestler. She is No. 5 on the list of top female sumo wrestlers in the world. She received the Shiv Chhatrapati Award from the Government of Maharashtra. She is also a judo trainer.
Wiki/Biography
Hetal Sudhir Dave (also known as Hetal Sujit Sharma after marriage) was born on 8 December (age 36 years; as of ) in Rajasthan, India. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius. Hetal holds a Commerce degree.
A picture of young Hetal Dave
Physical Appearance
Height: 5&#; 6&#;
Weight (approx.): 80 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Caste
Hetal Dave was born into a Brahmin Rajasthani family.
Parents & Siblings
Hetal&#;s father&#;s name is Sudhir Dave. She has a brother named Akshay who is also a sumo wrestler.
Hetal Dave (extreme right) with her parents and brother
Husband & Children
Hetal is married to Sujeet Sharma. The couple got married on 26 April
Hetal Dave with Sujeet Sharma
Career
Hetal Dave was interested in sports from a very young age, she start
‘Dad Quit His Job to Coach Me’: India’s 1st Female Sumo Wrestler on Her Journey to The Ring
Sometimes, superheroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear a mawashi belt.
Hetal Dave — the country’s first and only professional female sumo wrestler — testifies to this. Growing up, she watched her ‘Papa’ wear this belt many a time, sometimes to train her, other times to play the opponent. This core memory continues to be etched in the year-old’s mind, as she settles down for a tête-à-tête with The Better India.
Sudhir Dave did not ever want his daughter to give up on her passion for want of a good coach. And so when in , Hetal showed signs of wanting to pursue a career in sumo wrestling, Sudhir made one thing clear. If there wasn’t a coach available, he would become one.
Through her four-year-long career in the Japanese-origin sport, Hetal has enjoyed the resounding cheers of the audience, the thrill of adrenaline while in the dohyo (the ring where sumo wrestling happens), and the adulation of the country. But outshining all of these is one thing — the lengths to which her father went to show his support.
“My father was working when I first got interested in sumo wrestling. Th
Hetal Dave: India's first female sumo wrestler defying odds and empowering women
Sumo wrestling, a traditional Japanese sport, involves two wrestlers aiming to push each other out of a circular ring or force the other to touch the ground. Though traditionally male-dominated, it’s gaining global interest from women. Indian women like Hetal Dave have shown that sumo is not just a physical challenge but a real career opportunity. By taking the sport seriously, women can break barriers, build confidence, and inspire others to follow suit in this unconventional yet empowering field.
advertisement
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Hetal Dave, India’s first female sumo wrestler, shared her remarkable journey in a male-dominated sport. From her early training in judo to becoming a trailblazer for women in sumo wrestling, Hetal’s story is a testament to the power of persistence, passion, and defying traditional gender roles.
EARLY BEGINNINGS AND INSPIRATIONS
Hetal’s foray into martial arts began at the tender age of five when she started training in judo—a skill essential for sumo wrestlers. "A sumo wrestler needs to know wrestling or
Biographies you may also like
Huang sheng yi pics of dogs Shengyi Huang pictures and photos. Explore. Lists Reviews Images Update feed. Categories. Shengyi Huang pictures and photos. 19 Fans; Pictures; 17 Lists; Post an image. Sort by: .
Kurt johnston live curriculum Year With Jesus: Kurt Johnston and Rick Lawrence. Simple Truth: Rick Lawrence. Journey to Freedom: Rick Lawrence. 5th & 6th Grade: Kurt Johnston and Rick Lawrence. Junior High .
Geetanjali kulkarni biography books Books with Buzz. Mystery, Thriller & Horror Biography & Memoir. Self-Development. Better in Audio. Fiction. Non-Fiction. Science Fiction & Fantasy. In TV & Film. Learn Something New Read By Geetanjali Kulkarni.
Biography on marion luna brem husband Marion Luna Brem, a thirty-year-old mother of two, had just been told the most dreadful words anyone could hear: “You have two to five years to live.” She had no job. No health insurance. .
Irene dunne biography pictures later years 90210 Irene Dunne was an American film actress and singer of the s, s and early s. Dunne was nominated five times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her .
Dato siti nurhaliza biography of mahatma Siti Nurhaliza, atau nama penuhnya Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin, adalah seorang penyanyi, usahawan, dan juga ikon terkenal Malaysia yang dikenali sebagai “Penyanyi Missing: mahatma.
John paul the ii biography Pope John Paul II made pastoral visits in Italy and, as the Bishop of Rome, he visited of the current Roman parishes. His international apostolic journeys numbered .
Wolfgang amadeus mozart biography older age Mozart, who was born in the Holy Roman Empire's Salzburg (Mozart country of birth), had extraordinary talent from an early age. He began composing at the age of five and performed .