Hamida Banu's journey in wrestling is both an inspiring tale of perseverance and a challenge to deeply ingrained patriarchal attitudes. Even though Hamida Banu's story is remarkable, It's frustrating that her achievements, both in and outside the wrestling ring haven't received the recognition she deserves. The fact that her life remains underappreciated hints at a mindset that still struggles to fully embrace women wrestlers.

Hamida Banu grew up in a wrestling family, but being a woman in a conservative town, it was almost unthinkable for her to take up the sport. Wrestling was seen as something for men—full of aggression, power, and competition, all traits that society traditionally associated with masculinity. Plus, women participating in physical activities were often sexualized, which made it seem "inappropriate" for them to step into the ring.

Her male opponents didn’t just laugh at her for trying to wrestle—they turned her into an object of desire. In one infamous instance, a male wrestler named Baba Pahelwan challenged her with an absurd condition: either marry him or beat him in a match. This whole situation just highlighted how men of that time couldn’t handle the idea of a woman being better than them at something like wrestling. Banu had already dealt with other suitors-turned-opponents, so she was no stranger to this kind of nonsense. But instead of backing down, Banu stayed focused on proving herself. She wasn’t just in it to win matches—she was taking on an entire mindset that doubted women’s capabilities. In the end, she didn’t just win the match; she humiliated Baba Pahelwan, defeating him in just 1 minute and 34 seconds, making it clear that she was not to be underestimated.

Hamida Banu's journey in the wrestling world was nothing short of extraordinary, but outside the ring, she faced some serious challenges. Growing up in a conservative community, her passion for wrestling was hard for many to swallow. She eventually had to leave Punjab due to public insults and even physical attacks. During a match in Kolhapur, fans went so far as to throw stones at her for beating a male opponent. In Pune, authorities even stepped in to cancel one of her matches.

This backlash wasn’t just about outdated views on women; it revealed a fragile male ego struggling with the idea of a woman outperforming men in a sport they thought was strictly for them. Yet, Banu didn’t let that stop her. Her determination to keep wrestling was truly inspiring.

Her record is jaw-dropping—she won all 320 of her bouts! Not stopping there, Banu sought international challenges, too. An article in the Indian Daily Mail highlights a matchup against Raja Lai La, a woman wrestler from Singapore, and she even defeated Vera Chistilin from Russia in less than a minute during a freestyle competition in Bombay. Now that’s how you make a statement!