Pooja “The Cyclone” Tomar, an MMA fighter, made history as the first Indian to win a bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Growing up as the youngest of three daughters, she was acutely aware of the societal pressures her family faced—pressures that boys never seemed to bear. Fueled by this injustice, Pooja developed a fierce determination to do something unique with her life. However, like most youngsters, she initially had no clear idea of which path to take.
As a fan of Jackie Chan movies, Pooja began practicing karate. After winning a small match and seeing her victory printed in the papers, she realized she had a gift. This was the turning point in Pooja’s journey. She learned to channel her energy and aggression into sports. Initially her decision made her conservative father’s head spin. Eventually he did not stand in the way of her dreams and both parents provided the boost she needed. Although her father often subtly expressed his wishes for his daughters to focus solely on their studies, he never stopped her. Pooja soon understood the magnitude and difficulty of his decision in the face of societal pressure, to enable her to follow her dream.
As Pooja’s journey continued, she encountered many Christian fighters who openly gave all glory to Christ. Inspired and encouraged, Pooja began to seek Christ. She chose to take steps prayerfully and was incredibly grateful for each blessing and answered prayer she received. “First of all, I want to thank Jesus, my Savior,” were the first words she said after winning a bout in the UFC. Pooja has always felt the Holy Spirit guiding her and reminding her that each win and each fight is for God and country.
Pooja encourages women and young girls across the country to dream big. She urges families to stand by their daughters, just as her mother stood by her and enabled her to achieve her dream.
