Rutuja Gurav: A Rising Star in Wrestling from Bihar
The Journey of Rutuja Gurav
Patna (Bihar) - On May 15, a remarkable story emerged about Rutuja Santosh Gurav, who began her wrestling journey at the tender age of eight. Her father, a construction worker and sports enthusiast, introduced her to a wrestling academy located just two kilometers from their village, Panchgaon, in Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.
Initially hesitant to embrace the sport, Rutuja found her motivation after watching the film Dangal, featuring Aamir Khan, which is inspired by the lives of the Phogat sisters. This pivotal moment ignited her passion for wrestling.
Over the last eight years, Rutuja has devoted herself to wrestling, with her father, Santosh Gurav, providing unwavering support at every competition, despite lacking technical knowledge of the sport. His encouragement has been a crucial source of strength for her.
Rutuja's achievements include winning gold at the Junior Nationals in 2021, successfully defending her title in 2022, and earning a silver medal at the 2023 Nationals. She also secured gold at the School Games in the same year and made her international debut, clinching silver at the Junior Asian Championships in Thailand.
Despite her accomplishments, the family's financial situation remains humble. Santosh earns approximately Rs 15,000 monthly, while his wife contributes an additional Rs 6,000 as a grocery store helper, supporting their family of four, which includes Rutuja's elder sister, who is studying law.
As Rutuja participated in her first Khelo India Youth Games, she was optimistic about achieving a podium finish. For her father, a medal at the KIYG in Bihar could provide essential financial support for Rutuja's wrestling career.
“Managing family expenses can be challenging. I often work 12-hour shifts, sometimes even longer, to make ends meet. However, I prioritize attending her competitions, which means I forgo income on those days,” he shared.
“The Khelo India scholarship scheme has been a tremendous help. It allows our daughter to concentrate on her training, covering her nutritional needs and equipment,” he added.
On Wednesday, the 16-year-old showcased her potential by starting her U-17 girls' 46kg campaign with a decisive 3-1 victory over Khushi from Delhi, followed by a 4-0 win in the semifinals against Bihar's Rupa Kumari. In the final, despite facing tough competition from Haryana's Annu, Rutuja maintained her composure and clinched the gold with a 3-1 victory.
The bronze medals in her category were awarded to Khushi (Delhi) and Kashish Gurjar (Rajasthan).
Rutuja's victory symbolizes not only her personal success but also the resilience and unwavering belief of her family in pursuing dreams through hard work.