Published: Aug 18, 2016, 11:53 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 18, 2016, 12:14 PM (IST)
Sakshi Malik created history on Wednesday when she became the first-ever female wrestler from India to win an Olympic medal, as she bagged the bronze on the 12th day of the ongoing Rio Olympics 2016. Sakshi emerged winner of the bronze medal in the 58kg category wrestling bout against Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan, registering a memorable win in the dying moments of her contest. Sakshi is the first Indian athlete to win a medal at the Rio Olympics 2016, and her achievement was celebrated by billions of Indians including cricketers. Sakshi had luck on her side as she not only won her contest in the last few minutes of the game, after she had lost her quarter-final to her Russian opponent, who reached the final. This allowed the Indian wrestler to compete in the reechage round.
According to PTI, the 23-year-old grappler from Haryana climbed the medal rostrum with a spectacular come-from-behind 8-5 win over Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan after trailing 0-5 in the first period. She jumped on the mat with ear-to-ear smile before being hoisted by her coach Kuldeep Singh with the Indian tri-colour draped around her.
It was the fifth bronze in wrestling for India in its long Olympic history stretching back to 1952 Helsinki Games when Kashaba Jadhav became its first individual medallist. She is also the fourth female Olympic medallist from India, joining the ranks of weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari (2000, Sydney), boxer MC Mary Kom (2012, London) and shuttler Saina Nehwal (2012, London).
Let us take a look at how the cricketing fraternity in India reacted to Sakshi’s feat:
#SakshiMalik is a reminder of what cn happn if u don’t kill a girl child.When d going gets tough,its our girls who get going &save our pride
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 18, 2016
Poora Bharat is baat ka Sakshi hai,jab koi bht mushkil ho toh is desh ki ladkiyan hi Malik hain.Thank U#SakshiMalik pic.twitter.com/YfHgRqxwTM
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 18, 2016
Now that’s a proud moment for the Nation! #SakshiMalik wins Bronze medal in Wrestling at the #RioOlympics2016! pic.twitter.com/606v86d4V9
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) August 18, 2016
Congrats Sakshi Malik on winning the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics. Proud of you #SakshiMalik #Rio2016
— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) August 18, 2016
Congratulations to #SakshiMalik on winning the Bronze in Women’s Freestyle 58kg to give India its first medalWe are proud of u #Rio2016
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 18, 2016
Congratulations to #SakshiMalik on an incredible achievement!#BronzeMedal #Rio2016
— Ajit Agarkar (@imAagarkar) August 18, 2016
Congratulations on your first Olympic medal #SakshiMalik. Very well done!! #ThankYouSakshi #Rio2016 #proudindian
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) August 18, 2016
Congratulations, #SakshiMalik on winning #IND‘s first medal at #Rio2016 #Olympics #wrestling
— CricketCountry (@cricket_country) August 17, 2016
#SakshiMalik has made India proud.Wrestling in India gets another big boost.#Rio2016
— Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) August 17, 2016
Well done #SakshiMalik on your achievement! Proud of you! #Rio2016
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 17, 2016
What a morning,made my day already before I start traveling to Banglore for NCA camp,incredible moment #SakshiMalik lady sultan#Rio2016
— Sushma Verma (@ImSushVerma) August 18, 2016
You did it #SakshiMalik, congratulations on winning & a brilliant performance @Olympics #Rio2016 !
— Lt. Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) August 18, 2016
“Meri 12 saal ki tapasya rang layi (It’s the fruit of my persistent hard work in the last 12 years). Geeta didi, my senior had qualified for the first time in London. I never thought I would become the first woman wrestler from India to bag an Olympic medal in wrestling,” Sakshi said with tears of joy in her eyes.
