Mumbai: “Fight like me,” beamed Sakshi Malik, as she threw light on her journey from Rohtak to Rio during an event in Mumbai on Tuesday.
Sakshi etched her name in the history books after she became the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in wrestling.
Things were always not easy for Sakshi, she was criticised when she took up wrestling. However, she expressed happiness for the love and respect she is receiving following her super show in the recently concluded Rio Olympics.
“I had no doubt about winning a medal in Rio but I never expected such a reception back home. When I went there (to Brazil) I was alone, but now the entire country knows who I am,” said the 23-year-old Khel Ratna Award winner.
Sakshi, also threw her weight behind those who want to take up sports.
“My family was always supportive of my decision to pursue wrestling, but I had to hear a lot from people and did not enjoy solid support from those outside the family. But now I will like to tell people to fight like me,” said the 23-year-old during an event of a feminine care brand Whisper which is promoting #LikeAGirl campaign.
A research undertaken by the same brand indicated that 6 in every 10 girls in India become less involved in sports activities on reaching puberty.
“Girls quit sports as our society taunts them. But my message for the girls would be to do what they want to,” said Sakshi.
Although Sakshi had proved that she enjoys the bigger stage with a Commonwealth Games silver medal in Glasgow 2014 and bronze medal in Incheon Asian Games in the same year, she shot to fame and became a household name following her breathtaking come-from-behind 8-5 win over Kyrgysztan's Aisuluu Tynybekova in Rio Games.
As Sakshi and shuttler PV Sindhu garnered a lot of praise following their bronze and silver medal wins (respectively), 19-member Indian contingent for Rio Paralympians also impressed everyone, including Sakshi, with their four-medal haul.
While javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia and high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu clinched gold medals, Deepa Malik won silver in shotput along side Varun Singh Bhati’s bronze in the high jump T-42 event.
When asked whether Indian Paralympians are neglected, Sakshi answered in negative.
“Paralympians are not neglected. Deepa Malik, who won a silver medal in shotput, is an inspiring story and I have learnt a lot from her. In fact, I am happy that she is getting more recognition than me,” concluded Sakshi.
