Sakshi Malik: Seven interesting facts about India’s first Rio medalist

Sakshi will also be offered a job by the State Government.

The state government has promised a bumper bonus for medallists in the prestigious quadrennial event-Rs 6 crore for gold, Rs 4 crore for silver and Rs 2 crore for bronze.

Sakshi’s feat assumed significance in light of medal drought faced by the Indian contingent in Rio. “I hope to win one too”, she added. But, little did she and her parents knew at that time that one day she would become the first woman wrestler from the country to win an Olympic medal.

At the 2015 Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar she finished in third position thereby claiming a bronze medal. The young wrestler had overturned a 0-5 deficit in a hectic second round to script an 8-5 victory in the medal bout. But it’s the Olympic medal that’s made her an instant celebrity.

Nearly a month back, when the Olympic athletes from India hadn’t reached Rio and were training hard for it, The Quint shot a video with the three women wrestlers-Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik and Babita Kumari.

Sakshi Malik comes from a conservative village in Haryana where she began playing the sport at the age of nine. Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu also tweeted, “Many congratulations”. It’s the victory of women power in India, which would guide and motivate many other girls to bring laurels to the country in future.

Only for the assembled media to demand her presence citing prior commitment from the family! It is evident that men have failed India and only women athletes are keeping India’s flag flying high. According to news reports, Sakshi’s mother did not want her to take up wrestling.

Sakshi’s bronze is the country’s only medal at Rio so far.

Meanwhile, celebrations took place at the home of Sakshi Malik on Thursday in Rohtak town after she clinched the bronze medal in Rio.

Sakshi had made several attacks, but the opponent seemed unbeatable.

Her own sacrifices also helped.

Yet Sakshi persevered. And today she is the first female wrestler to win an Olympic medal for India.

In the second period of the match, Malik fought back with relentless attacks, and with nine seconds remaining on the clock, she had tied the score. We all are happy and proud of you Sakshi Mallik, whole nation is waiting to celebrate with you! As a result of this, Haryana has bagged the first medal for the country in the Olympics, the release said.

“Its in the womens section, we have got the first medal for India, ” said an ecstatic WFI president Brij Bhushan even as he hugged her in joy.