India’s new female hero stepped up onto the podium full of pride and received her well-deserved bronze medal, creating a dramatic moment for India at the Rio Olympic Games.
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“In the last three minutes I had to give my best”.
As far as Sakshi is concerned, the 23-year-old from yearning to fly in an aeroplane as a kid to clinching a Bronze in the Olympics, the biggest sporting stage of all, the Haryana wrestler has come a long way in her fairy-tale journey to etch her name in the sporting history of the country.
Sakshi Mallik, who is she?? “I hope the remaining wrestlers will also do well”, added the 23-year-old from Mokhra village in Rohtak district of Haryana, a silver medallist at the 2014 Glasgow CWG and bronze victor at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
“I had to give my maximum but from inside I somehow knew I could pull it off.I could win”. Before the repechage bouts, I had 2-3 hours break, it was hard to pass that time but my coach kept encouraging me, telling me you can do it, you can do it, the medal is yours. “I am happy that I could live up to the expectation of my country”, said the shy, simple girl. Sakshi’s uncle Satbir Singh said there were mutterings when she started participating in bouts.
Sakshi, who qualified through second Olympic Games World Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul, battled social biases and sexism to learn wrestling. Without that aggression I could not have won the bout today.
Sakshi also revealed that her resolve to win became stronger after Vinesh was injured during her quarterfinals and was crying in pain while being taken away in a stretcher.
I fought till the last and realised my dream.
Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik.
Mr Sisodia called the bronze medal winner’s family and extended his greetings and shared a tweet by cricketer Virendra Sehwag which said, “Poora Bharat is baat ka Sakshi hai, jab koi bht mushkil ho toh is desh ki ladkiyan hi Malik hain”.
“I dedicate this medal to all the people who have supported me all along”.
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“I would like other girls to take inspiration from her, enter sports and do wonders”.
