Seema Rao
Seema Rao, sometimes referred to as India's Wonder Woman,[1][2] is India's first woman commando trainer,[3][4] having trained Special Forces of India for over two decades without compensation. She is an expert in close quarter battle (CQB)[5] — the art of fighting in tight proximity — and is involved in training various Indian forces.[6] She works in partnership with Major Deepak Rao, her husband.[7]
Biography
Born to an Indian freedom fighter, Professor Ramakant Sinari, Rao has an MBA in crisis management. She was a Mrs India World beauty pageant finalist.[8]
Rao earned her Para Wings by skydiving in the Indian Air Force course. She is a combat shooting instructor, an Army mountaineering institute HMI medalist, and an 8th degree Blackbelt in military martial arts. She is one of a handful of instructors authorised to teach Jeet Kune Do.[9] She co-invented a new method of shooting, called The Rao System of Reflex Fire, for close quarters combat, along with her husband Deepak Rao. Together, the Raos are recipients of three Army Chief citations for over two decades of contribution to training 15,000 soldiers.[10]
Rao has co-authored two books—Encyclopedia of Close Combat Ops and A Comprehensive Analysis of World Terrorism.
Awards and recognition
Rao was ranked sixth in the 2019 Forbes India W-Power Trailblazer list.[11] She received Nari Shakti Puraskar from the President of India in 2019.[12]
References
- "Close to 50, yet I like to spar and engage in combat with men to keep fit". Times of India. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- "India's wonder woman". Deccan Chronicle. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- "Women Power: Dr. Seema Rao's Iron Will". jagran.com. Retrieved 14 March 2019.
- "IWD Special Interview of Dr. Seema Rao". bhaskar.com. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 8 March 2019.
- "Dr Seema Rao Commando Trainer". indiatimes.com. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- "Training the Indian Forces". BBC News हिंदी. BBC. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- "Indian Super Woman Dr. Seema Rao". Deccan Chronicle. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
- "Dr Seema Rao - India's only commando trainer". indiatimes. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- "Jeet Kune Do Instructor - Dr Seema Rao". LokMarg. 19 December 2016. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
- "Unstoppables Combat Couple". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
- "Dr Seema Rao is No 6 in the 2019 Forbes India Woman-Power". forbesindia.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- "President gives Nari Shakti Puraskar, woman marine pilot, commando trainer receive loudest cheers". uniindia.com. Retrieved 8 March 2019.