Fitness for us on match day is paramount.

Host: The training ground was still under a heavy haze of early morning mist, the kind that makes the world feel like a secret still unfolding. The air smelled of sweat and determination, a scent that only those who train for something bigger than themselves understand. Jack stood by the edge of the field, watching the wrestlers practice their throws, their movements sharp and purposeful. Jeeny jogged up beside him, her hair pulled tight, her breath coming steady but quick.

Jeeny: (wiping her brow) “Geeta Phogat once said, ‘Fitness for us on match day is paramount.’”

Jack: (glancing at the athletes) “I’d say it’s more than just fitness. It’s about mindset.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Fitness isn’t just physical. It’s mental. Emotional. It’s about being whole when it counts.”

Jack: (shakes his head) “I don’t know, Jeeny. It sounds simple when you say it like that, but... when you’re in the ring, it’s more than just what you’ve trained for.”

Jeeny: “It’s everything you’ve become. All your preparation. All your sacrifices.”

Jack: “And all your fears.”

Host: The sound of slapping feet against the turf echoed as the wrestlers practiced their footwork. Their grunts filled the air, a sound of pure effort, unfiltered. Jeeny’s gaze followed the athletes, her expression a mix of admiration and something deeper — recognition of a truth that had shaped her own journey.

Jeeny: “You see, Jack, when fitness is paramount, it’s not just about strength or speed. It’s about what you carry with you through every moment of the match.”

Jack: (pauses) “So it’s about who you are when the pressure’s on.”

Jeeny: “Yes. It’s about maintaining composure when your body screams, when your mind tells you to quit, when everything in you is fighting against the instinct to stop.”

Jack: “I can’t imagine pushing through all that. Every second, every breath— knowing that you could fail.”

Jeeny: “That’s the challenge. The pressure isn’t just physical. It’s knowing that your mind is the real battlefield.”

Host: The trainer blew the whistle, signaling the wrestlers to pause, their heavy breaths creating clouds of steam in the chilly morning air. They were drenched in sweat, their bodies still in motion but ready for a break. Their faces, though tired, held something else — focus, purpose, and quiet pride.

Jeeny turned to Jack, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly.

Jeeny: “You know, when Phogat says ‘fitness is paramount,’ it’s a reminder that success isn’t just about the final win. It’s about the moment you stand up and face yourself, every day, for what you want to achieve.”

Jack: “That’s a hell of a way to live — constantly battling your own limits.”

Jeeny: “It’s the only way to grow. You don’t conquer your opponent. You conquer yourself.”

Jack: “And all the doubt that comes with it.”

Jeeny: “Especially that.”

Host: The morning sun began to pierce the mist, casting long shadows across the field, the athletes’ figures looking almost like sculptures in motion — carved from the earth itself, strong and enduring. Jeeny’s face softened, her eyes following their every movement.

Jack: “You think they’re ever afraid of losing?”

Jeeny: “Of course they are. But they choose to act anyway. That’s what fitness does for you. It doesn’t just build your body. It builds your courage.”

Jack: “Courage. I like that.”

Jeeny: “It’s what carries you through the match, through the fight. Fitness is more than the body, Jack. It’s the soul’s endurance.”

Jack: “And what happens when you’re tired of fighting?”

Jeeny: (grinning) “You rest. Then you fight again.”

Host: The athletes gathered together in the center of the field, exchanging quiet words, sharing their strength like a bond between them, unspoken but real. The whistle blew again, and the sound of feet pounding the earth resumed, rhythmically, like a heartbeat.

Jeeny watched them, the faintest glimmer of respect and something deeper in her gaze.

Jeeny: “You know, Jack, maybe what Geeta Phogat meant isn’t just about fitness on match day. It’s about staying ready, every day — for the moment that matters most. It’s the discipline to train your mind and spirit just as much as your body.”

Jack: (nods) “So it’s not about winning the fight. It’s about winning the fight before you step in.”

Jeeny: “Exactly.”

Host: The camera would linger on the wrestlers as they pushed themselves, sweat dripping, muscles straining, but their eyes unwavering. They were not just training for a match. They were training for the challenge of being their best self when it counted.

Jack: (quietly) “Maybe that’s the part I’ve missed. It’s not the battle. It’s the preparation — the fight before the fight.”

Jeeny: “The battle is just the final test. The preparation is the real victory.”

Jack: “And you can’t fake it.”

Jeeny: “No. You either have it or you don’t. And the only way to have it is to earn it.”

Host: The whistle blew one last time, signaling the end of the session. The athletes slowed to a walk, their bodies spent but proud, their energy still simmering beneath the surface. The rain had stopped, and the world felt quieter now, as if it had been holding its breath, waiting for their next move.

Jeeny stood, stretching her arms above her head, her face calm but full of purpose.

Jeeny: “You know, Jack, maybe we’re all just training for the next match. For the next moment when we have to step up and face ourselves.”

Jack: “And when you’re ready, you face the world.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. Fitness isn’t just for the body. It’s for the soul. And on match day, when it all comes down to it, fitness is everything.”

Host: The camera pulled back, showing the athletes, now scattered across the field, their silhouettes strong against the fading light.

The echo of footsteps and the soft hum of training remained, a reminder that every fight — every victory — began long before the match.

And as the scene faded, Geeta Phogat’s words lingered —

that fitness is not just the body,
but the heart’s preparation,
the spirit’s endurance,
the courage to face what waits.

For match day is only a reflection
of the fight you’ve already won —
in silence, in sweat, in every moment
spent becoming what you’re meant to be.

And when you face the world,
it will already know
the strength you carry inside.