Hamida Banu

• 07 May 2024

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.