Generally, superheroes put on capes. Generally they put on a mawashi belt.
Hetal Dave — the nation’s first and solely skilled feminine sumo wrestler — testifies to this. Rising up, she watched her ‘Papa’ put on this belt many a time, typically to coach her, different instances to play the opponent. This core reminiscence continues to be etched within the 37-year-old’s thoughts, as she settles down for a tête-à-tête with The Higher India.
Sudhir Dave didn’t ever need his daughter to surrender on her ardour for need of an excellent coach. And so when in 2008, Hetal confirmed indicators of desirous to pursue a profession in sumo wrestling, Sudhir made one factor clear. If there wasn’t a coach accessible, he would turn out to be one.
Via her four-year-long profession within the Japanese-origin sport, Hetal has loved the resounding cheers of the viewers, the fun of adrenaline whereas within the dohyo (the ring the place sumo wrestling occurs), and the adulation of the nation. However outshining all of those is one factor — the lengths to which her father went to indicate his assist.
“My father was working after I first acquired occupied with sumo wrestling. The day he determined to be my coach, he stop his job to dedicate all his time to coaching me,” Hetal recounts. How powerful was it to take this life-altering resolution on the spur of the second? Sudhir responds, “People have loopy minds and when the thoughts decides it desires one thing, nothing is an impediment anymore.”
Piecing the story collectively of how she went from being a baby who was an ace in judo (Japanese martial arts) to placing India on the sumo wrestling map, she says her dad and mom have at all times been her largest inspiration and cheerleaders. In truth, she says, she will get her love for sports activities from them. “It’s in my DNA. My dad and mom lived in a village all their lives. So, in some ways, sport was a giant a part of their lives. And after I was 5 years outdated, it grew to become a giant a part of mine too.”
However whereas the 2 generations bonded over this ardour for sports activities, circumstances distinguished the fortune of pursuing it.
Hetal explains, “Within the village, my dad and mom didn’t have a lot publicity to services or alternatives. Afterward, household tasks took over they usually couldn’t reside their sports activities desires.” So early on, the couple determined they’d not let their kids face the identical destiny.
“When my brother and I confirmed curiosity in sports activities, they made certain they have been there at each follow sitting on the entrance row seats,” she provides.
Whereas some days, sports activities was a ardour, different days, it was Hetal’s protected house. Her chubbiness, which had been adored when she was little, was ridiculed as she acquired older. “Why can’t I simply slot in,” she thought many a time, opting to remain at dwelling as a substitute of going out since she didn’t wish to endure countless taunts about her weight.
And so, in isolation, she struck an uncommon — albeit particular — friendship with sports activities. It was throughout this part that the membership Hetal attended for judo organised a sumo wrestling championship. The extra she discovered about this new sport, the extra she resonated with it.
“In India, we time period individuals skinny and fats. However in Japan, being the latter just isn’t one thing unhealthy. In truth, if one is a sumo wrestler in Japan, they don’t seem to be known as ‘fats’ however fairly, ‘sturdy’. They’re worshipped, they’re celebrated, and they’re seen as function fashions,” she informs.
Unearthing these tales was illuminating for Hetal, who up till now had considered her weight as an issue. “It made me realise that it was all about notion. From then on, I started to take a look at my weight as a logo of energy,” she says.
Stumbling upon sumo wrestling had ignited a fireplace in Hetal. She spent the following few days in cyber cafes, engrossed in analysis concerning the sport. She wished to study all the pieces there was to it. However the extra she learn, the extra she was startled to not discover point out of any Indian ladies within the sport’s historical past. She determined to seek out out why.
“I went to the Sumo Wrestling Affiliation in Churchgate, Mumbai, and spoke to them about my desires of pursuing sumo wrestling professionally,” she recollects. Her enthusiasm was met with reluctance. “They advised me that India didn’t have the infrastructure for the game and the organisation was not supported by the Authorities.”
Hetal must discover her personal sponsor if she was eager to observe her dream.
From her Mumbai dwelling to the sumo rings of Estonia
As Hetal particulars her journey out for me, I can not ignore the truth that sumo wrestling is a sport steeped in shows of energy, not simply bodily however emotional. Whereas Hetal struggled to discover a coach to assist her with the previous, she relied on herself and her household for the latter.
Many poked enjoyable and taunted her about these lofty desires. Her father interjects right here saying, “Many individuals would usually jeer saying ‘Hetal is a Gujarati lady and solely eats daal bhat (steamed rice with cooked lentils). How will she obtain something in sports activities with that eating regimen?’” However the unwavering assist of her dad and mom and brother helped her tide by. Criticism was placed on the again burner as her aim occupied the entrance — to take part in a sumo wrestling match.
A New York Instances article in 2022 emphasised how the best sports activities tales are those that transcend sports activities. And Hetal’s is an instance. There was a starvation in her to show to the world that ladies can do something they got down to, even when that typically means wrestling in a hoop.
“I’d write down all the pieces that I learnt from my analysis. I’d watch movies and take notes,” she says. However the chasm between actuality and simulation was evident. “How a lot can one study from movies? I knew I wanted to begin taking part in the game to actually study.”
And this was when Hetals’s father stepped in.
“He noticed how passionate I used to be about sumo wrestling and determined that we’re going to do that collectively. He purchased me a laptop computer, and each day, we’d watch movies on sumo wrestling, examine the approach, after which practise. He and my brother would try the game step-by-step and educate me. We adopted this routine from morning to nighttime for weeks. It grew to become a type of dance, there was a rhythm to it,” she notes.
The trio have been relentless of their follow.
In the meantime, the times main as much as the World Championship (2008) in Estonia have been passing shortly and Hetal nonetheless hadn’t discovered a sponsor. Time was operating out. However, as she emphasises, assist at all times arrives while you least count on it.
“An area Gujarati newspaper would usually write about my achievements, and after I approached them with this dilemma, they put out an article asking if anybody wish to sponsor me to take part in the match. And plenty of got here ahead,” she shares.
‘I used to be celebrated for my energy’
Simply a youngster, the reminiscence of standing on international floor when she landed in Estonia continues to be contemporary in Hetal’s thoughts.
“I used to be conscious that nobody from India can be there on the match and was nervous. Right here I used to be, going for one thing that was so new, and in a wierd place. Whereas I managed to discover a sponsor, the funds have been restricted, and I needed to be extraordinarily cautious about budgeting. However whereas the concern of all of it set in, so did luck,” she says.
“The mayor of the city got here personally to obtain me on the airport and shared how completely satisfied he was that somebody from India was collaborating. The organisers noticed to it that my vegetarian meals preferences have been taken care of and {that a} consultant accompanied me always in order that language barrier wouldn’t be an issue,” she says.
As Hetal hadn’t had formal teaching, she was unaware of the mawashi (a sumo belt) that’s worn by all wrestlers. “After I advised the organisers that I didn’t have one, they gave me one and taught me the best way to tie it,” she smiles.
Then she additionally acquired to be aware about the rituals that precede a sumo wrestling occasion.
“I bear in mind sitting intently and watching them prepare and observing their methods,” she shares. The load of the event dawned on her, however she factors out that each one fright lay forgotten when she set foot within the ring for the primary time and was met by thunderous applause. “The entire stadium was cheering for me as a result of the announcer had talked about that I had come on their own from India to take part within the match,” she provides.
The story is riveting and offers Hetal goosebumps. The success of this primary world alternative — she was among the many prime 10 — propelled her in direction of those that adopted. On the World Video games in 2009, she was the one feminine athlete from India out of 200 competing athletes.
Following this win, Hetal needed to retire in 2012 due to an absence of sponsorship. To this finish, she underscores lack of assist as the largest hurdle that stops ladies from pursuing sports activities akin to sumo wrestling.
The previous couple of years have stored her on her toes with the documentary movie ‘Sumo Didi’, directed by Jayant Rohatgi. Hetal’s function within the movie is essayed by Shriyam Bhagnani. And Hetal, who personally skilled Bhagnani, says the intent was to convey forth each emotion that has colored the canvas of her journey —
“The stress to make your nation proud, the uncertainty of not realizing the opponent’s subsequent transfer within the ring, the sensation of being alone typically at tournaments and never having anybody to take a look at within the stands, the need to show individuals who stated ‘You’re fats, you can’t do something in life’ mistaken.”
She is hopeful that her story can be a beacon for individuals to consider in themselves and observe their calling. And behind Hetal stands a proud father who by no means for as soon as doubted that his daughter would obtain these feats — “Mhari chori chore se kam hai ke?”
And for all those that questioned how Hetal’s easy eating regimen would let her obtain greatness in sports activities, her father has a solution prepared, “Ek marwari ne daal bhat kha ke historical past bana li (A Marwari lady has created historical past regardless of a easy vegetarian eating regimen).”
Edited by Pranita Bhat.
