Seeing my name in the newspapers after winning the national junior championship motivated me to win more medals and I have never looked back since then.

I wear jeans and shorts. I travelled on my own to Mumbai for my knee surgery. I can go to Delhi when I want. Being a sportsperson helps me get away from the bhed bhav of Haryana.

Young girls in Haryana should speak their mind and not be afraid to challenge the system.

Women sportspersons like Krishna Poonia and Seema Antil are role models for Haryanvi women.

In our village women are left to clean the house and milk the cattle so when I first entered the ring, I had to hear the criticism of people.

Even my grandmother would tell me that girls should not wrestle, it's a man's game.

Everybody at the Olympics are almost at level par.

It's not easy to juggle between studies and sports but yes, if you are clear about your goals and have passion, you can definitely succeed.

I want to tell the students to follow their heart and respect their parents and teachers as they are their ultimate gurus.

My father was a disciplinarian. He had this cane and he would spare no one if found at fault. Unlike Babita, I was not physically strong and couldn't cope with the training. So I got the most beatings.

My first gold was in the 2002 cadet national. I realized I was good enough even outside my village and my district.

The problem of burgeoning population can be addressed if we begin with women itself. And, we need to educate them and spread awareness about birth control and family planning through TV channels and newspapers.

Politicians should talk about sportspersons and sports, and it should surely be in the agenda when they go out asking for votes.

Don't just set a goal for your child but ensure that they play outdoor sports for overall development.

It's important for parents to be strict if you want the kids to succeed.

I will be even more strict than my dad, because look at me, I turned out fine.

Even if someone offers me junk food, I won't eat it.

I want to settle down and start an academy in a rural area, because I feel that's where most champions come from. If you have everything in life, why would you wake up at 3:30 A.M. to train? I feel there's a lot of talent that goes untapped there, especially in women sports.

I want to focus on my training and leave no room for distraction. So, reality-tv shows are a no-no.

I have faith in myself.

For an athlete, the country is everything.

I think if we are at a war with an enemy country, that country is responsible for our soldiers' deaths.

There are a mix of good and bad people everywhere, be it Punjab, Delhi or Haryana.

Isn't it wrong to target and brand an entire state in a poor light?

My father always told my sisters and me that once you succeed, people will automatically be quiet. And he was right.

Now my grandmother, who used to want sons, says that she does not really want boys anymore. She says I'm the lion of the family.

After our life history was shown on the silver screen and much appreciated by the audiences, I have more of a responsibility on my shoulders now.

Visiting Spain does not excite me as much as making my parents proud does.

Yes, I have watched 'Dangal.' Fatima has done a brilliant job.

If all girls turn strong within themselves, men with bad intentions can be taught apt lessons.

Wrestling will always be my top priority.

It was my father's passion actually. I had never wished to become a wrestler. I was 12 when my father initiated me into this sport. Gradually, I started liking it and then it became my passion too.

I have seen my father defying societal norms and investing his time and energy on us. He was ridiculed and criticised by the community for asking girls to seek a career in wrestling. But he had vision and was least worried when elders warned him his daughters would not find grooms. I had to wrestle for him and that motivated me tremendously.

Before Babita and my win at the CommonWealth Games, nobody used to take Indian women wrestlers seriously.

Dangal has changed our lives.

It is a very proud moment for our entire family that a movie has been made on our lives and we have taken a small village of Haryana to Hollywood.

We have won laurels for the country in wrestling but still, in spite of winning medals, not many people recognised us.

Usually, it is the men who are given importance. But now, people view women wrestlers as equals.

I hope Indian parents will allow girls to choose their own destiny.

If Sakshi can be successful in her field, so can any other woman in our country.

In real life I have conquered my worst fears by fighting and beating bigger wrestlers in dangal. So I am not afraid of anything.

Honestly, I have not done any preparation for 'Khatron ka Khiladi.'

Thanks to my training in Balali village, I am rough and tough.

Wrestling is different from other sports. It is not just about physical strength. It is more of a mind game as during matches we have to read the mind of opponents and outwit them.

I am very happy that Indian women are making their mark in sports be is Sakshi Malik or even PV Sindhu who also won a medal for the country. We talk about women empowerment and there cannot be any bigger example than this.

Dangal' movie has been made on our lives in which two daughters win a medal for the country. It just shows that the times are changing and people's attitudes are changing and if it is changing because of us then we are very happy about it.

I am fully prepared to fight with any opponent in my category from any team.

We became quite famous in our district. People came especially to watch us. And I used to love it when we heard them saying, 'There go the girls who beat boys.'

Everyone should be allowed to participate in sport, because it helps you to become more confident. That is important for women in India, because we are not always treated as equals.

We are proud to be role models.