Rio 2016: Sakshi Malik wrestles her way to Olympic bronze
18 Aug 2016 12:14 PM IST18 Aug 2016 12:14 PM IST
Sakshi, who qualified through second Olympic Games World Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul, battled social biases to learn wrestling.
After ending India's agonising wait for an Olympic medal at the Rio Games with a bronze medal, Indian women wrestler Sakshi Malik said it was the result of her 12 years of persistent hard work.- Weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari (2000, Sydney), boxer MC Mary Kom (2012, London) and shuttler Saina Nehwal (2012, London) were the only other women players from India to have won a medal in Olympics.
- Following Sakshi's bronze-medal win, Haryana Govt announced Rs 2.5 crore and a govt job for the wrestler.
- Sakshi earned the dramatic win after falling behind 0-5 following the first period in the do-or-die bout. The Indian turned the tables on the Kyrgyzstan wrestler in the dying se conds of the bout as Tynybekova was in complete command in most part of the clash.
- The 23-year-old from Haryana, a silver medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and bronze winner at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, earned a dramatic come-from-behind 8-5 win over Kyrgysztan's Aisuluu Tynybekova in the bronze medal play-off.
- I never thought I would become the first woman wrestler from India to bag an Olympic medal in wrestling. I hope the remaining wrestlers will also do well, Sakshi said.
- Meri 12 saal ki tapasya rang layi (It's the result of my 12 years' fight for day and night). Geeta didi, my senior had qualified for the first time in London, Sakshi said, with tears of joy in her eyes.
- Sakshi scripted history by becoming the first woman wrestler from India to bag an Olympic medal and only fourth female athlete from the country to climb to the podium at the biggest sporting event.
After ending India’s agonising wait for an Olympic medal at the Rio Games with a bronze medal, Indian women wrestler Sakshi Malik said it was the result of her 12 years of persistent hard work.
Sakshi, who qualified through second Olympic Games World Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul, battled social biases to learn wrestling.
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