Her achievements rebel her composed looks. Daughter of sports enthusiasts, Satyavir and Usha Jakhar, Geetika is a wrestler par excellence. Apart from fetching laurels in international women wrestling, she is a winner of Bhim Award in 2003. She became the first woman wrestler to get the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2006. Winner of two gold medals (2003, 2005) and a silver (2007) in Commonwealth Championships and a silver medal at Doha Asian Games in 2006, the list of her international triumphs is notable.

 

In August this year, she triumphed again by winning the Rajeev Gandhi Gold Cup for wrestling for the fourth time. Taking cognisance of her feats, Haryana government last year, appointed her Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in the state Police.

 

Recently on a trip to Delhi, Geetika candidly opened to Ramesh Kumar Raja in a conversation:

 

Q. Your achievements reveal your perfection in the wrestling world. So, what is your motivating force?

 

GJ: My family including my grandfather, father, mother, brother and also, my best friend Neeru. It is because of their encouragement that winning has been instilled in me. I fight but it's they who make it happen. Interestingly, when my father built our house in Hisar in 2004, he got Arjuna Awardee carved below my name outside and had potted it with a black coloured tape.

 

Q. You come from a Jat family. What brought you in this male dominated sport?

 

GJ: My parents always considered me as a son. They are very accommodating. My family has a sports background and I grew up in that type of ambience. Initially, I was an athlete during my school days and won a number of prizes at intra and inter-level tournaments. But when we shifted to Hisar, my father would take me to the stadium every evening to practice shot-put. One day, a sudden encounter with grappling in the amphitheatre grew into a never-ending love for wrestling.

 

Q. Tell us about your dietary precautions and workout schedule to get energy for the game?

 

GJ: Diet and practice equally play a vital role in wrestling. I shun junk food. Non-vegetarian diet is quite helpful in wrestling, but being a complete vegetarian I face problems especially in international championships. But I fulfil it with milk, protein powder, juice, almonds, etc. I religiously practice two hours in the morning and evening with utmost discipline.

 

Q. What is your ultimate goal now?

 

GJ: Like every sports person, I would like to win an Olympic gold medal for our country.

 

Q. How do you feel on being appointed as a DSP?

 

GJ: It's an honour to cherish for the female fraternity. Besides, I am passionate for my job as I am for wrestling. My family always wanted their sons to join police, but now it is me. After achieving my dream of Olympics, I would take my police job more seriously.

 

Q. What is your message for young girls, who want to make it big like you?

 

GJ: Show your spirit and I'm sure your families would support you in every walk of life. Success always follows hardships, so fight them. There is always a place at the top and you must continuously endeavour to attain it.

 

Q. Are you contented with the government support to the sports persons?

 

GJ: Yes. The state of affairs has in fact got better. The Centre and state government have done a lot of sports in Haryana. District wise stadiums with nurseries providing free coaching and diet supplements to children have been set up. A new sports policy regarding increase in prize money has been framed by Haryana. Prize money for Olympic participation has changed from zero to Rs 11 lakh.

 

Q. Now that the Commonwealth Games are near, share something about your preparations?

 

GJ: I am working out religiously. Our coaches, especially PR Sondhi takes personal attention in our training. We also have a Georgian coach Dobo, who is a methodical professional. They have been working on some areas where I need additional perfection and improvement.