Hamida Banu, India’s first female wrestler, is honored with a Google Doodle

On Saturday, May 4, Google unveiled a doodle in honor of Indian wrestler Hamida Banu, who is seen as the country’s first professional female wrestler. “Hamida Banu was a trailblazer of her time, and her fearlessness is remembered throughout India and across the world,” reads the text that goes with the Google Doodle. She will always be honored for remaining true to herself, despite her physical achievements.”

Hamida Banu gained worldwide fame for her victory in the wrestling contest that took place on this day in 1954, finishing in just one minute and thirty-four seconds. She emerged victorious over renowned wrestler Baba Pahalwan. The latter ended his career as a professional wrestler after the loss.

This doodle honors Indian wrestler Hamida Banu by featuring her in the front with “Google” written in the background, surrounded by native flora and fauna. It was drawn by guest artist Divya Negi, who is located in Bengaluru.

The Early Life of Hamida Banu:

In the early 1900s, Hamida Banu, popularly known as “Amazon of Aligarh,” was born into a family of wrestlers in the Aligarh region of Uttar Pradesh. She learned the art of wrestling as a child and went on to win more than 300 matches during her career in the 1940s and 1950s.

Hamida Banu’s Career:

Women’s participation in athletics was fiercely discouraged up until Hamida Banu gained progress, as dictated by established societal conventions at the time. But Hamida Banu received a lot of recognition for her commitment. She publicly challenged male wrestlers and even offered to marry the first person to beat her.

International titles are linked to Hamida Banu’s name. In less than two minutes, she triumphed against Russian wrestler Vera Chistilin in another match. Following her victories in bouts, Hamida Banu gained to national prominence. The media covered her training program and diet extensively.