Google Doodle honours India's first female wrestler, Hamida Banu

Google Doodle shines a light on Hamida Banu, India's first female wrestler, honouring her groundbreaking achievements and inspiring journey in sports.

Introducing

Hamida Banu is widely regarded as India's first female wrestler, breaking barriers in a sports reserved for men.

Early Life

Born in the early 1900s near Aligarh, Hamida Banu hailed from a family of wrestlers and earned the nickname 'Amazon of Aligarh'.

Been a Trailblazer 

The doodle describes Hamida Banu as a "trailblazer of her time," celebrated for her fearlessness & authenticity towards the sport.

On this day in 1954, Banu's wrestling match victory against Baba Pahalwan, in just 1 minute and 34 seconds & created history.

Historic Win

Defeat of Baba Pahalwan

Her victory over famed wrestler Baba Pahalwan, which led to his retirement from professional wrestling.

Pioneering Career

Banu won over 300 wrestling competitions, challenging societal norms and gaining international recognition.

Awards & Recognition

Banu's dedication broke barriers, encouraging women's participation in athletics, and even challenged male wrestlers openly, winning awards globally.

Illustration Mastermind

A Bengaluru-based artist, Divya Negi, created the doodle, which shows Banu with the word 'Google' surrounded by local plants & animals.

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