Sakshi Malik Raised India's Flag At Rio 2016. This Is Her Story, Of Her Struggles And Her Journey To The Olympics

Sakshi Malik ended India's prolonged medal drought at 2016 Rio Olympics by winning a Bronze medal in 58 kg category of women freestyle wrestling. Many including the so-called intellectuals like Shobha De had written off Indian hopes of winning anything at the Summer Games. But Sakshi with her herculean effort proved them wrong.

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But as they say 'success has many fathers and failure is an orphan', only a handful of people who follow wrestling closely know about Sakshi's journey to the Olympics. Now after winning the medal, she has become a household name overnight.

Success comes with a price and Sakshi too has paid enough to reach this level.

"My neighbours and relatives used to dishearten my parents that girls in wrestling lose their feminine softness and they become more masculine which becomes an obstacle in getting them married. But my parents didn't listen to anybody and supported me despite all odds," Sakshi had told Indiatimes in Lucknow days before leaving for Rio.

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Sakshi hadn't promised any medal but she had said that she won't give up trying till the last moment and that's exactly what she did when she pinned her opponent down in last thirty seconds of the bout despite trailing her 0-5 in the penultimate minute.

"Meri 12 saal ki tapasya safal hui. Aakhir tak dimag mein tha medal tera hai (My 12 years' of hard work have borne fruit. Till the last moment, my heart said the medal was mine)," Sakshi told the media after the fight.

"I don't believe in talking big. I know medal at Olympics is a big deal and every player wants the flag of his or her country to go up; and I am no different. But I assure my country one thing that I won't give up trying till end," Sakshi had told Indiatimes.

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Sakshi Malik who has given 12 years of her priceless childhood to the sport of wrestling didn't face any financial issues because her family was strong enough to support her cause and their dream. But all champion athletes have that one inspiring moment that urges them to take the plunge and reach the top.

Sakshi too had her own moment when she was eight.

"When I was eight I saw a picture of a woman wrestler in a newspaper carrying Hanuman Ji's Mace on her shoulder and I don't know why but that picture inspired me to such an extent that I decided that one day I will become a wrestling champ and carry similar mace on my shoulder. I knew that only champions get the mace," explained Sakshi.

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Haryana is notorious for being the poorest state in the country in terms of sex ratio. Her embracing a masculine sport like wrestling indeed raised quite a few eyebrows. However, Sakshi, riding on the confidence and support of her parents, didn't give a damn about society and came out with flying colours.

"I have a brother as well. But my father didn't want him a wrestle. Instead he supported me to live the dream of my grandfather who always wanted to have a wrestler in the family. No matter how much I speak, the contribution of my family, coaches and friends is way beyond one can imagine and talk about," told Sakshi.

Now that Sakshi is a champ and she kept her word of hurling the tri-colour at podium, will she be satisfied?

"No. Medal at Olympics would just be another glorious beginning for many other feats to come. I will keep doing what I do best-hardwork," Sakshi said, while getting ready for another round of fight.