Ritu Negi

Some Lesser Known Facts About Ritu Negi

• She was the captain of the Indian Women’s Kabaddi team that won the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

• During her time at school, Ritu observed some senior girls playing Kabaddi during a school event, and she found herself captivated by the sport. This attraction led her to develop an interest in Kabaddi.

• After finishing her education at Sharog, she secured a spot at the State Hostel Bilaspur while studying in the 10th grade.

• In her 10th grade, Ritu, along with her Kabaddi coach, went to the Sports Authority of India in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, for a selection trial, where she successfully secured a spot. She dedicated nine years to training there, participating in both Junior and Senior Nationals.

• At the Sports Authority of India in Bilaspur, she won two Gold medals in the Junior Nationals, and five Bronze medals in the senior nationals for Himachal Pradesh.

• Her leadership skills were recognized in 2011 when she was appointed as the captain of the Indian Junior team, contributing to their Gold medal victory.

• Later, during an A-Grade Kabaddi tournament, she was spotted by senior coaches, where she managed to impress them with her Kabaddi skills and was selected for the South Central Railway women’s Kabaddi team and also got a job with them.

• Ritu Negi began working for Indian Railways’ South Central department in 2014.

• After winning the competition in her first game for the South Central Railway, she was chosen for the South Central Railway Camp. In her second tournament for the South Central Railway, she was chosen for the Senior Nationals Indian Railway Women’s Kabaddi Team.

  

• In 2017, Ritu Negi did not make it to the last twelve in the 2017 Asian Championship despite being picked for the Indian team camp.

• She was once again chosen for the Asian Games camp in 2018, and this time, she qualified for the Indian team’s final 12. She was appointed team captain in 2022 and led the women’s Kabaddi squad to a victory at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

  

• In October 2023, she was given a cash prize of Rs. 3 Crores by the Haryana government for her performance at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

• In December 2023, Ritu Negi became the first woman Kabaddi player to win the Arjuna Award from Himachal Pradesh. ^[2]The Tribune