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Manish Sisodia to felicitate Sakshi Malik’s father

The colour of the medal didn’t matter.

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Sakshi Malik trained for 12 years to win a Bronze.

The 23-year-old from Rohtak overturned a 0-5 deficit in a hectic second round to script an 8-5 victory over Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan in the bronze medal bout at the Carioca Arena 2 here on August 17. That was her dream. “It was monsoon season and one of the girl trainees at the centre met with an accident after a fall from her scooty”.

First of all, Sakshi Malik is all set to be conferred with country’s highest sporting honour Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award as per policy decision by the Government.

In Lucknow, glued to the television, Shyam Budaki – from Gokak near Belagavi – watched with tense anticipation as his protégé clawed her way back from a position of defeat.

After a few excruciating moments, the score ticked over from 7-5 to 8-5 in favour of Sakshi, much to the delight of the ecstatic fans in the audience, ensuring her a bronze medal. “I will say, see “I’ve made it”. That was a big no-no in Haryana’s conservative society and Malik’s coach, Ishwar Dahiya, was criticised heavily for training girls in a sport deemed inappropriate for them.

Malik’s come-from-behind win in a playoff bout against a wrestler from Kyrgyzstan pulled India into a tie at the bottom of the medals table with countries such as the Dominican Republic, Estonia and Moldova. But Sakshi was a totally transformed grappler in the second round, taking eight consecutive points to send the Indian fans in the stands into wild delirium. Vij also extended good wishes to Sakshi and her family members on behalf of the people of the state and country. It’s there she learnt how to stay focused and despite all that was against her, keep on with the struggle and prevail. “But me, never.” In the aftermath of her impressive performance, politicians and administrators of all hues clamoured to her side, holding her up as a person Indians could be proud of. She has just got started in her winning ways.

Yesterday, while Sakshi won bronze in the 58 kg, Babita’s cousin Vinesh Phogat suffered a ligament tear during her bout in the 48 kg class against a Chinese rival, got stretchered out and also bowed out of the wrestling competition.

Here’s what he posted on Facebook, when Malik had just won the bronze medal. “There was no negativity all day that there would be no medal”. However, she had to wait about an hour for the MRI, since the machines were busy with other athletes. So why not in ten seconds?

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On her mindset when she was down 0-5: I never lost hope even then.

What is repechage in wrestling?