It's a Result of 12 years of Hard Work, says Sakshi Malik

Sakshi Malik put an end to India’s agonising medal drought as she clinched Bronze in the 58 kg category. Sakshi also became the fourth Indian woman to win a medal at the Summer Games and and the first to do so at the Rio 2016 Olympics. She gave India the fifth bronze in wrestling since 1952 Helsinki Games.

The 23-year-old Rohtak girl made the country proud when she fought back from 0-5 down to beat Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan 8-5 in the bronze medal match. Sakshi won the medal match in the wrestling 58kg category in the most astonishing fashion after she qualified for the Repechage rounds of the women’s freestyle 58kg event. She made most out of her second chance to outplay the Mongolian wrestler Orkhon in the Rd 2 contest 12-3 to advance to the bronze-medal match.

“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.

“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.

Earlier she had lost her quarterfinal bout, but got a fresh lease of life when her Russian conqueror reached the final, allowing the Indian to compete in the Repechage round.

An ecstatic Sakshi celebrated her win by jumping on the mat with an Indian flag draped around her.

source: http://www.indianexpress.com/