This article will tell you about the amazing career of Sakshi Malik
Sakshi Malik is a former Indian freestyle wrestler who has made a significant contribution to Indian wrestling. She was born on September 3, 1992, in Rohtak, Haryana.
She began wrestling at a young age and quickly showed promise, eventually becoming one of India’s most accomplished wrestlers. In this article, we will look at Sakshi Malik’s career in 1000 words.
Sakshi Malik’s journey to becoming an accomplished wrestler began in her hometown of Rohtak. Her father, Sukhbir Malik, was a bus conductor, and her mother, Sudesh Malik, was a supervisor at a local health clinic.
Her parents noticed her inclination towards wrestling and enrolled her in a local akhara (wrestling school) at the age of 12.
Early Career
At the akhara, she was coached by Ishwar Dahiya, who quickly recognized her potential. Sakshi began participating in local and state-level tournaments, winning medals and gaining recognition for her skills.
Her breakthrough came when she won a silver medal in the 2010 Junior World Championships in the 58kg category.
Sakshi Malik’s success continued as she won a bronze medal in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 58kg category. She followed this up with a bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, in the same category.
In 2015, Sakshi won a bronze medal in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships in Doha, Qatar, in the 60kg category. She also won a silver medal in the 2015 Commonwealth Wrestling Championships in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the same category.
However, her biggest achievement came in the 2016 Rio Olympics when she became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal. In the quarterfinals, she defeated Johanna Mattsson of Sweden 5-4 in a closely contested match.
Mid Career
However, she lost her next match to Valeria Koblova of Russia. She was given a lifeline when Koblova reached the final, allowing Sakshi to compete in the repechage rounds.
In the repechage rounds, she defeated Purevdorjiin Orkhon of Mongolia 12-3 and then overcame Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan 8-5 in the bronze medal match.
Sakshi Malik’s success at the Olympics was a significant milestone in Indian wrestling, particularly women’s wrestling. Her medal came at a time when Indian women’s wrestling was gaining recognition and support. Her achievement inspired a generation of young wrestlers and helped raise the profile of women’s wrestling in India.
Since her Olympic success, Sakshi has continued to compete at the highest level. She won a bronze medal at the 2017 Asian Wrestling Championships in New Delhi, India, in the 60kg category.
She also won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, in the 62kg category.
Legacy
Sakshi Malik’s career is an inspiring story of determination and hard work. Despite facing many challenges, she persevered and became one of India’s most accomplished wrestlers. Her Olympic medal was a significant achievement not just for her but also for Indian wrestling as a whole.
Sakshi’s success has also helped raise awareness about women’s wrestling in India. Her achievement at the Olympics inspired many young girls to take up wrestling and pursue their dreams.
