5 reasons Ritu Phogat will win the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix

#2 Ritu Phogat: Past performances

If there’s anything to judge Ritu Phogat by, it should well be her previous performances, and her two most recent outings in the Circle are the best examples. Comprehensive unanimous decision victories over dangerous Chinese fighters Lin Heqin and Meng Bo are proof of her steady progress.

In both fights, she overcame the striking threat on the feet posed by both opponents, closed the distance, and imposed her will. As soon as she was able to come in close, the takedown was imminent. And on the mat, 'The Indian Tigress' has no equal.

The level of control Ritu Phogat has over her opponents when their backs are on the canvas is overwhelming. This alone makes her a dangerous threat to any of the final four in this tournament.

#1 Ritu Phogat: Support of a nation

Last but not least, and perhaps most important, is the amount of support 'The Indian Tigress' has from her compatriots in her native India. National support plays a significant role in an athlete’s career, especially when it comes to combat sports.

When Arjan Bhullar lifted the ONE heavyweight world title from Brandon Vera earlier this year, he became the first mixed martial artist of Indian descent to win a world title in a major organization. Ritu Phogat hopes to follow in his footsteps and achieve the female version of that feat.

She was expected by many to represent India at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo earlier this year, but when she announced her plans to embark on a mixed martial arts career instead, the focus shifted to her becoming a world champion in the Circle.

Ritu Phogat is back in action at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday, October 29, when ONE Championship returns with ONE: NextGen. She faces Japanese judoka Itsuki Hirata in the semifinal round of the ONE Women’s Atomweight World Grand Prix.