Meet West Bengal's Runu Ghoroy: National-Level Wrestling Champion And Indomitable Force

National-level wrestling champion Runu Ghoroy is the only NIS Diploma holder for wrestling in West Bengal. She was presented the Khel Samman award in 2015 by WB Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee for being one of the top wrestlers of the state. 

Hailing from Howrah's Charabagan, Ms Ghoroy began playing Kabaddi as early as 10 years of age. She represented West Bengal in the Senior National Wrestling Competition in 2015.

She was the Tamil Nadu coach of the Women's Team in 2022 and the Chief Coach for the West Bengal Wrestling Association from 2013-2017. Ghoroy is currently working as the Head Wrestling Coach at Kolkata's Combat Clan

In an interview with SheThePeople, Runu Ghoroy talks about her inspiration behind the sport, the challenges she faces along the way, why it's integral for young girls to be involved in combat sports, and why honest practice holds more value than winning medals.

Runu Ghoroy Interview

What is your inspiration for practising Wrestling? 

I used to play Kabaddi when I was in class 5. I was always an active girl in school and won medals for it. I even got an opportunity to move ahead with Kabaddi in the Nationals. However, I took a break from Kabaddi. In the meanwhile, a junior of mine was playing wrestling and invited me to join her. Since my base was Kabaddi, it did not take a long time for me to learn wrestling. It was self-defence and fighting so I took an instant liking to it. I began learning wrestling at 21 years of age so I had to work harder.

What would you like to say about the quality of sports education available in West Bengal? 

Better sports infrastructure can be noted outside of West Bengal. They have sports schools, colleges, and a better sports curriculum. There aren't well-supported curriculums here for someone who wants to enter wrestling coaching. Sports institutions outside of West Bengal place more importance on studying sports. I wasn't aware of this when I did my studies, else I would have tried to move outside. I however do look forward to pursuing a Master's in the future.

Have you experienced any discrimination in this ostensibly male-dominated field?

I haven't faced any discrimination from people belonging to the sports industry but I cannot say the same for Indian society. Whenever people would hear that I wrestle their faces would fall looking at me in disbelief because I weighed less. There wasn't enough awareness of the game outside of the sports industry. Some people did not believe females could wrestle. They believed only men could do so. However, this was the behaviour I received earlier. I do believe there is a little more awareness today.

Does the Featherweight or Lightweight category experience any sort of shaming in combat sports?  

Not from the sports industry. Featherweight and lightweight have more players and those overweight try to cut their weight to enter this category. They do this to lose fat and gain muscle mass. It is also not a matter of concern when they gain a kilo or two as water weight. However, if they had been overweight, gaining that water weight would have been an issue.

How essential do you think it is for young girls to enter combat training? 

I always tell young girls this is important. I find young girls less inclined towards fitness than young boys. I find them more inclined toward maintaining their figure as a fitness goal.

When I'm training a class of 30 pupils, 25 of them will be males and only 5 of them females.

I think a cause for the less participation of females could be a distraction caused by social media or dating. I don't condemn either of these but I find it immensely important to make time for strength training. God forbid, if something ugly happens on the street, then women need to know how to defend themselves first and foremost.

We wish to educate young girls on the importance of self-defence and have plans to work with schools for this. There needs to be sensitivity and awareness toward combat sports from a young age. It becomes difficult to instil these values when they are older.

How many years did you put into practice for winning your first-ever medal? 

I won the first medal in the State Championship. It didn't take me long because I already had some experience in Kabaddi and the physical force required for it. I carried that into wrestling and it took me six to seven months to win my first medal. However, for Nationals I took 3 years to prepare. I won the bronze medal at the Federation Cup at the National Level.

How important are competitions for you? Or would you rather focus on daily practice? 

As a player, I would practice hard daily and not just for competitions. Of course, the two-three months leading up to the competition would see me practice harder. However, I wouldn't slacken after competitions, I would still practice.

Do you plan on launching your own practice in the future? 

I treat the Combat Clan as my own. The owner, Arko Dasgupta, treats me as his partner and we try to work together. Therefore I do not wish to launch a business separately because most of my coaching goals have been realised here. I have been preparing players under my guidance. We are constantly trying to provide better coaching facilities to players to enhance their learning experience.

Did you face any hindrances to your wrestling journey? If so, how did you grow from it? 

People will pass comments scorning me for rising to the top as a player and coach in a short period. They do not see the grind behind it. I have received such comments from people in the sports industry. I found such comments hurtful.

I worked hard for an entire year, giving it my all, and preparing for both the written and practical exams of NIS. No one before me in my family or close circle had gone to NIS for a sports degree. Therefore, I was clueless.

I was already married at the time while preparing. I would leave home at 9:30 am and reach at 10:30 pm. I would complete all of my household chores before leaving. My diet was important as a player, I would cook and carry my tiffin with me.

Even though he's young, does your son appreciate your journey so far? 

He's far too young. He's just eight years of age and isn't old enough to understand the struggle. However, when he was about one year old, he would come to watch me practice. When I would practice my wrestling drills, he would scream and shout thinking that someone was attacking his mother. He wished to defend me, not understanding that we were practising. He understands this now though. 

Do you think the state government should offer financial support to MMA players? 

The government recognised games such as wrestling, hockey, swimming and others might receive financial support. However, MMA still operates as a private sports practice in India. It is not government-recognised. Therefore, it is not possible to get financial support from the government, as long as that remains the status of MMA.

Why do you think there is a dearth of female wrestlers in India? 

This is because it requires more strength and endurance. It requires powerful takedowns. Wrestling, grappling, and MMA require more strength than other sports like Kickboxing.

From when you started to now, what factors have had the biggest impact on your growth as a sportsperson?

Lifestyle change is needed including diet change. Food restrictions do apply as a player. I did have to practice cardio, even though I detested it. I had to practice three times a day, that was mandatory. Even if I could not give my all at either one of the sessions, I still had to keep going. 

How did you regulate your diet as a wrestler? 

While playing as a wrestler, I could not eat all of the necessary diet items. Wrestlers require high-protein food. I do not feel that everybody and especially persons from rural districts can support such a diet as it is expensive.

A lot of people who wish to play combat sports seriously hail from lower-middle-class backgrounds. I come from such a background.

It is not feasible to always purchase protein supplements. I would take protein supplements only a month before the competition to recover and gain strength. After the competition, I would stop consuming it because I could not afford it long term. That is why rural players from West Bengal are perhaps not as strong as players from Haryana or UP. The latter receive more support for sports and primarily they are producer states in terms of crops. Therefore, consumption becomes easy.

What would your advice be for women who are aspiring MMA fighters?

Women from rural backgrounds face troubles that men do not when they wish to pursue combat sports like me. I have had to work two times harder than any man to be here today. Any other woman wishing to be here also has to put in the same amount of work.

There are other women like me in combat sports who are in this fight to gain the same space as men which are not recognised by their families. We have to come forward forcefully. We have to be selfish and think about ourselves first. The day women stop expecting other people to care for them and start learning to care for themselves, they will have won half the battle. They will find the motivation to move forward and come here.

Of course, there will be obstacles. It is difficult for women to leave their children behind at home even momentarily. However, women have to find the willpower to effectively manage their time and come forward to invest in themselves even if it's for half an hour.

"It is difficult for women to leave their children behind at home even momentarily. However, women have to find the willpower to effectively manage their time and come forward to invest in themselves."

What advice would you give to young mothers who wish to pursue combat sports?

I had a cesarean baby and I resumed heavy wrestling within six months of delivery. I was told I would face physical problems after my delivery, but thankfully I did not. I had six months in hand to prepare for my Nationals. I was returning after playing the Nationals when my child turned one. If I could do it as a mother then so can other Indian mothers if they are willing to try.

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