Vaishnavi Patil, a 22-year-old wrestler from Kalyan, Maharashtra, has secured her spot in the Indian national team for the women’s 65kg category at the upcoming World Championships in Zagreb, showcasing remarkable speed and mat awareness. The daughter of a dhaba owner, Vaishnavi’s rapid rise in just four years of mat wrestling, after transitioning from mud wrestling, culminated in a 7-2 victory over Muskan in the national selection trials. Inspired by Sakshi Malik’s 2016 Rio Olympic medal, she began her journey in late 2020 and now trains under coach Jasbeer at the Sushil Kumar Akhada in Hisar, Haryana.

Initially a state-level medal-winning swimmer, Vaishnavi switched to wrestling after being inspired by the respect accorded to combat sport athletes. Despite her dream of becoming a fighter pilot being thwarted by poor eyesight, her passion led her to Hisar, where she adapted to a new culture and diet rich in dairy products. Her father, Dilip Patil, sacrifices his dhaba earnings to fund her training, while her disciplined routine—limiting phone use to once a week—has fueled her progress. “She’s technically sound with strong counter-attacks,” said coach Jasbeer, crediting her year-long commitment to training in Hisar.

Vaishnavi idolizes American wrestler Helen Maroulis, a multi-medal Olympic and World Championship winner, and aspires to emulate her by winning a medal at the Worlds and ultimately an Olympic medal. Her early promise shone through with a silver in her first junior state competition, followed by consecutive golds.

As she prepares for Zagreb, Vaishnavi’s journey from a small village to the global stage reflects her determination to bring pride to her family and country.

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