Geeta Phogat, India's first female Olympic wrestler finally appointed DSP in Haryana Police

After a six-year-long wait since winning India’s first gold medal in women’s wrestling in the Commonwealth Games, the Haryana cabinet finally approved the appointment of wrestler Geeta Phogat as a Deputy Superintendent of Police in the state police this Tuesday.

The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Haryana, approved a Home Department proposal in this regard.

"She is a graduate and a sportsperson of international repute. She is also a gold medallist in wrestling at the 19th Commonwealth Games-2010 held in Delhi," a state government spokesperson said.

Phogat, who was also the first Indian woman wrestler to have qualified for London Olympics in 2012, was selected for appointment as Inspector in Haryana Police under sports quota that year. In March, this year, she moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for promotion to a post on par with her achievements. The High Court then directed the Haryana government to decide on her representation within two months.

But the wait for the reward made the star wrestler frustrated over the years. "Humein aadat ho gayi thi wait karne ki. Sab khush hain par jitni khushi honi chahiye thi, utni nahin hai (We got used to waiting. Everyone is happy but we are not as happy as we should have been)," Geeta had told the Indian Express.

"While other players were appointed (as DSP) on winning gold in the same event, we were denied this for six long years."
Geeta is the daughter of Mahavir Singh Phogat and her sisters include Rio 2016 Olympics participants Vinesh Phogat and Babita Kumari.