“I never knew what an Olympics was, I wanted to become a sportsperson to travel in an aeroplane”. That she hails from Haryana where girls are still seen as inferior to boys makes her achievement all the more epic.
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Aditi Ashok put in a splendid performance in the day 1 of the woman’s individual golf event enjoying a good first round, recording 3 birdies and 15 pars on her way to a -3 under 68. “The way she came from behind to win Bronze at Rio shows her class, grit and determination”, the Chief Minister said in a statement.
Sakshi’s feat assumed significance in light of medal drought faced by the Indian contingent in Rio.
Over in Badminton, Kidambi Srikanth’s hopes of winning an Olympic medal were dashed last evening after he went down battling world number three Lin Dan of China, 6-21, 21-11, 18-21 in the quarterfinals.
Early on Thursday morning (India time), Sakshi gave the nation a lot to cheer for when she overturned a 0-5 deficit in a hectic second round to win 8-5 in the bronze medal bout against Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova.
“It is a joyous moment for all of us”.
Sakshi Malik was born on 3rd September 1992 in Rohtak Haryana.
The Prime Minister of India also took to social media to congratulate Malik. “Unless she gets the big prize, she won’t rest, like she hasn’t all these years”, Sachin said before being pulled away by yet another channel for a ‘live and exclusive’. “She was outstanding.” Sushil said, “It is like a service she has done the country because the people of India were just pining for a medal”.
Sakshi’s father Sukhbir Malik who is a DTC conductor said that his daughter, before going to Rio, had promised him to bring a medal for the country.
“I am proud that I got my country the first medal in this Olympics”, a visibly thrilled Sakshi told mediapersons after the win. Cricketers Sachin Tedulkar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Lakshman and Anil Kumble were the prominent among them.
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She is now working in the commercial department of the Delhi Division of Northern Railway. Railways also declared that Sakshi will be promoted to the rank of a gazetted officer.
