Hamida Banu

Hamida Banu defeated wrestler Baba Pahalwan in 1954, leading to his retirement. Google commemorated her victory with a doodle on May 4, 2024.

Banu hailed as "India's first woman wrestler" for her groundbreaking achievements.
Born into a wrestling family near Aligarh, she won over 300 competitions in the 1940s and 1950s.
Banu competed against men despite societal discouragement.
Her victory over Russian wrestler Vera Chistilin added to her international acclaim.
Known as the "Amazon of Aligarh," her diet, training, and bouts were widely covered.
Banu's daily diet included milk, soup, fruit juice, meat, almonds, butter, eggs, bread, and biryani.
She adhered to a disciplined routine, sleeping for nine hours and training for six.
Banu's fearless pursuit of wrestling challenged societal norms and cemented her legacy as a trailblazer in Indian sports.