‘DANGAL Girl’ Shivani Pawar has brought laurels by winning a silver medal in International Women’s Wrestling Championship. The Chhindwara wrestler finished second best going down to a US player in the final. Shivani defeated Maria of Russia in semi-finals in 50kg category in Under-23 International Women’s Wrestling Championship in Siberia. As many as 30 women players from India participated in this championship. Shivani was only player from Madhya Pradesh. In the first round of the event, Shivani defeated Anastasia Yanotva of Belarus, then beat Profatilova of Ukraine in quarter-finals. Shivani is daughter of Nandlal Pawar, a farmer of Umreth village. Nandlal has three daughters Bharti, Shivani and Ritika and a son.

 

These three are called ‘Dangal Girls’ of MP. Wrestling coach and District Secretary of Indian Style Wrestling Federation Kalshram Merskole started their training after joining Payka. Shivani has become first woman wrestler from Madhya Pradesh to make it to the championship. At present, this ‘Dangal Girl’ from Chhindwara is doing training in Delhi along with working in SSB. Shivani has been a girl wrestler of Akhara Training School. Shivani has brought laurels to Madhya Pradesh several times.

 

She was the only player to win gold for MP in National Senior Wrestling event held in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. So far, she has won one gold, three silver and five bronze medals. Shivani has also been honoured with the State’s highest sports award — Vikram Award. She is undergoing training from country’s only Muslim woman international wrestling coach Fatima Bano. Shivani, a resident of Umreth of Parasia block in Chhindwara district, represented the country five times in international competition.