EXCLUSIVE | 'Olympics medal nahi, Olympics gold': Manisha Bhanwala's promise to her late father

Manisha Bhanwala has made history as the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the World Wrestling Championships. Hailing from Jind, Haryana, she is not the only athlete from her hometown to shine recently, as Neeru Dhanda also won gold in trap shooting at the Asian Games. The town of Jind holds a special place in Indian mythology, as it is believed to be the birthplace of the Pandavas, who prayed to Goddess Jainti Devi for victory before the Mahabharata war.

Manisha's victory is deeply personal, as she kept her late father's photograph beside her pillow and even kissed it before going to sleep. Her father's teachings, which emphasized the principle of karma, played a significant role in her journey. At the World Championships final, Manisha fought back brilliantly to overcome a six-point deficit and win the gold medal, making her the first Indian woman to achieve such a feat in wrestling.