AFP
The success of female athletes at the Rio Olympics has once again brought to light the fact that India cannot discriminate against the girl child anymore and that women are an asset to nation-building at all levels.?
PV Sindhu and Sakshi Malik have become the only Indian athletes to win medals at the biggest arena in sports in the world when the former bagged the country's first silver medal in Olympic badminton event and the latter won India a bronze in women's wrestling for the first time in country's Olympics history.?
Back in India to a rousing reception ceremony organised by her home state of Haryana, Sakshi Malik was announced as the brand ambassador of the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' initiative in the state.?
PTI
"I want to thank each and everyone for such a warm welcome. so happy to see so many people cheering for me. I also want to thank all those who prayed for me, which helped me win the medal for my country. It was my dream to win an Olympic medal and I worked really hard for that. Now that I have won it, it seems as if I am living my dream," she said in the wee hours of Wednesday morning at the Delhi airport when friends, family and fans had gathered to welcome her.
AFP
"As I hugged my father and showed him my medal, tears rolled down his cheeks. My family was very emotional and they were very happy to see me. Some were getting emotional and some were smiling. I was really happy. My coaches and my parents really helped me achieve my dream. My seniors like Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt also inspired me a lot and I learnt a lot from them," the 23-year-old said.
With the win, Malik became only the fourth Indian woman athlete to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleshwari, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal. She has also become the fourth Indian wrestler to win a medal in Olympics after Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, two-time Olympic medallist Sushil and Yogeshwar.