Sakshi Malik - Know all about the girl from Rohtak

Rio de Janiero From yearning to fly in an aeroplane as a kid to clinching a bronze in the Olympics the biggest sporting stage of all Haryana wrestler Sakshi Malik has come a long way in her fairytale journey to etch her name in the sporting history of the countryBorn into a humble family at Mokhra village near Rohtak Sakshi tried playing kabaddi and cricket in her childhood but wrestling became her favourite sport after she started winning bouts But little did she and her parents knew at that time that one day she would become the first woman wrestler from the country to win an Olympic medalSakshi Malik kisses her medal Pic AFPSakshi last night ended the countrys painful wait for a medal at the Rio Olympic Games by clinching the bronze medal in the 58kg category pulling off a sensational 85 victoryover her rival in the playoff boutThe 23yearold wrestler also became only the fourth woman athlete from India to win an Olympic medal as she earned the dramatic win after falling behind 05 in the doordie bout on day 12 Her bronze is the countrys fifth medal overall in wrestling in the OlympicsI never knew what an Olympics was I wanted to become a sportsperson to travel in an aeroplane If you can represent India you can board a plane and fly Sakshi told PTI on the sidelines of a marathon round of interviews to hordes of elated Indian scribes late into the night at the Main Press Centre hereInterestingly her elder brother was named after cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar Sachin whos twoyears older to her would ask Sakshi toplay cricket but she would often say no and would stare at the sky with aeroplanes flying high Her family always supported her to pursue her dreamParents never forced me they supported me well in wrestling Now when I spoke to them briefly after winning the bronze they started crying in joy I told them its time tocelebrate Sakshi saidOne defining moment for India at the Rio Games was when Sakshi was lifted by her coach Kuldeep Malik as the duo did a lap of honour before she sat bending on her knees with the tricolour wrapped around her and a packed hall at the Carioca Arena 2 giving her a standing ovationIt was a dream come true for me and I had already preplanned to celebrate this way Sakshi said about winning the bronze medal through repechage after beating Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan 85 in the womens 58kg freestyleThe toughest phase for Sakshi was when she struggled to win a silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014 a lesson that had helped her in winning bronze in RioEveryone was getting medals Such was the pressure that I thought it would be difficult to return home without a medal I was under much less pressure here Haar gaye toh kyaho jayega lekin jeet gaye toh kya ho jayega I just had a free mind I did not fight with pressure and it helpedFrom being an underdog to winning India its elusive medal at Rio Sakshi acknowledged her life will change foreverI know my life has changed now Im not able to see it now but I think after I return home it will be different lifealtogether Din raat ka change hone wala hai The difference will be like between day and night she said RohtaktoRio journey took 12 years of struggle and hardship for Sakshi who was often overshadowed by the Phogat sistersIt felt strange Like in the camp for Bulgaria and Spain there were all Phogats and I was the only Malik in between them But I did not mind It was Geeta didi whoshowed us the way in 2012 she says about Geeta Phogats pathbreaking Olympic qualification in London 2012Geeta didi won medals for India and I got inspired and gradually I started winning she said Sakshis first international success came when she won abronze at the 2010 Junior World Championships in the 59kg categoryFour years later Sakshi won a gold at the Dave Schultz International Wrestling Tournament in 60kg and the biggest moment of her career came at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 where she won a silver medalWhen I had returned home after winning the Commonwealth Games medal everyone was after me and I could not sleep well Every time I fell sleep my brother or mother would tell me get up youve to give interviews people are waiting But I enjoy it not everyone get a chance of this type she admitsTwo months later Sakshi crashed out in the World Wrestling Championships quarterfinals in Tashkent finishing a poor eighth But she again came into reckoning by winning a bronze at the Asian Championships in Doha 2015It was only in May this year that Sakshi qualified for the Rio Olympics after making the final of the Olympic Qualifiers in Istanbul where she lost the final to Russian Valeria KoblovaIt was only after she made the cut Sakshi was included in the Target Olympic Podium scheme as she did some training in Bulgaria and Spain A daily routine in Sakshis life would be 500 situps and intensive training but at the moment the training can stop and she said she would love to gorge on her favourite aloo parantha and kadhi chawalIt feels like Ive not eaten aloo parantha kadhi chawal for ages now I was mostly on a liquid carbfree diet Now I can relax she said Sakshi is not into movies or chilling out with friendsFor her its about sleep and spend some quiet time at home maybe watching TV I just want to lead a peaceful life I dont like to travel around or going out for movies I want a job where I can be at peace Ive achieved all this because of my struggle for 12 years Peace is all what I need thats enjoyment for meBut this is just the beginning for SakshiI am looking forward to Tokyo 2020 Ask her whom she would first give the prized medal after she lands in New Delhi and Sakshi is no highflying in herreply This medal is for everyone in my country This medal belongs to you whoever it is I will say see Ive made it