Sakshi Malik is a renowned Indian freestyle woman wrestler. She came into the limelight in 2016 after winning a bronze medal in the 58 kg category at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In 2014, she won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and in 2015, she was the winner of the Bronze medal at the Asian Wrestling Championships in Doha. In August 2016, upon winning the Bronze at the Rio Olympics in the 58 kg category, she became the first Indian female wrestler and fourth Indian female athlete ever to win an Olympic medal.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Sakshi Malik was born on Thursday, 3 September 1992 (age 31 years; as of 2023) in Rohtak, Haryana, India. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. She received her primary school education at Vaish Public School, Rohtak, Haryana and secondary school education at DAV Centenary Public School, Rohtak, Haryana. Soon after completing her school education, she joined Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, Haryana to pursue a Master’s degree in physical education. [1]Hindustan Times
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 3″
Weight (approx.):Β 65 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Parents & Siblings
Her father’s name is Sukhbir Malik, and he is a DTC Bus Conductor. Her mother’s name is Sudesh, and she works at Anganwadi.
The parents of Sakshi Malik
She has a brother named Sachin Malik.
The brother and parents of Sakshi Malik
Husband & Children
On 2 April 2017, Sakshi Malik got married to Satyawart Kadian who is an Indian Wrestler.
Sakshi Malik with her husband
Career
Wrestling
In 2010, Sakshi Malik won a Bronze at the Junior World Championships in the 59 kg category. In 2014, she participated in the Dave Schultz International Wrestling Tournament and won a Gold medal. In August 2014, she clinched a Silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. In 2015, she participated in the Senior Asian Wrestling Championships in Doha and clinched a bronze medal. In May 2016, she defeated her opponent Zhang Lan from China in the Olympic World Qualifying Tournament and got qualified for the Rio Olympics. In August 2016, Sakshi Malik won a Bronze at the Rio Olympics in the 58 kg category after defeating Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kazakhstan. In 2022, she clinched a bronze medal at the Tunis Ranking Series event organised in Tunis, Tunisia.
#WeekendMood ππ πππ ππππ π@sakshimalik | @wrestling | @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/y81DgGTlMy
— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) June 10, 2022
On 5 August 2022, she won gold in the women’s freestyle 62kg category at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Sakshi Malik won gold in women’s freestyle 62 kg category at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games
Government Official
In 2016, Sakshi Malik was appointed at the Indian Railways in the commercial department of its Delhi division by the Government of India. Later, after she won a bronze medal in Rio, she was promoted from senior clerk to gazetted officer rank. Sakshi Malik was appointed as the wrestling director of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) in September 2016.
Controversy
Protest against Brij Bhushan Singh
Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, and Bajrang PuniaΒ held a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on 18 January 2023 against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). According to them, the WFI officials and coaches were harassing women. While accusing the federation and the WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment of many girls, Vinesh Phogat said,
Some coaches who are favourites of the federation misbehave with women coaches as well. They sexually harass girls. The WFI president has sexually harassed so many girls.β
Later, Mr. Sharan Singh responded to the allegations against him and the federation and questioned the wrestlers why they didnβt turn up for the last ten years and said,
If such a thing has happened, then I will hang myself.β
On 25 June 2023, wrestlers announced that they had decided to stop protesting against Brij Bhushan on the streets and to battle it out in court. [2]India Today
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- In 2016, Sakshi Malik was honoured with the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna award.
- In 2017, she was awarded the Padma Shri.
Sakshi Malik while receiving Padma Shri in 2017
- After winning several medals in wrestling, Sakshi Malik was felicitated with cash prizes totalling over βΉ5.7 crores (US$750,000) from the Indian Railways, the Indian Olympic Association, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, the Government of Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and from political party Indian National Lok Dal.
- The Government of Haryana granted 500 yd2 of land in her name soon after she won several medals in wrestling sports.
- In April 2024, she was listed among the 100 most influential people of 2024 by Time magazine.
Facts/Trivia
- Sakshi started practising wrestling when she was twelve years old. Her grandfather, Badlu Ram was a wrestler. Her father motivated her to practice wrestling.
- At the 2016 Summer Olympics, upon winning a Bronze medal in the 58 Kg wrestling category, Sakshi Malik became the first Indian female wrestler to win a medal.
Sakshi Malik after winning a bronze in 2016
- In a media conversation, once, Sakshi Malik narrated that her coach, Ishwar Dahiya, used to pick her up from her home during her training period to the coaching stadium. She added that he had to face protests from locals for the same.
- Sakshi Malik has also walked the ramps at various events.
Sakshi Malik while walking a ramp
- Sakshi Malik, along with her fellow female wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Babita Kumari, and Geeta Phogat, is associated with the JSW Sports Excellence Program.
- Sakshi Malik is trained by her personal Ishwar Dahiya who started providing her wrestling training at an Akhara in Chhotu Ram Stadium, Rohtak when she was 12 years old. Later, she received training under Indian wrestler Mandeep Singh.
- According to Sakshi Malik, she had to fight with the boys during her wrestling training period, as the girls of her region were not allowed to participate in the sport.
- In her leisure time, Sakshi Malik likes practising yoga, and travelling to distant places is her favourite recreational activity.
- In an interview with a media house, Sakshi once revealed that her personal favourite medal was the Silver medal, which she won at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
- She is often featured by renowned Indian magazines and tabloids on their covers.
Sakshi Malik in on a magazine cover
- Sakshi Malik remains very active on various social media platforms. She often posts her pictures and videos on social media. Over 573k people follow her Twitter handle.
- On 21 December 2023, Sakshi Malik announced that she quit wrestling. She announced this in a press conference after Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh‘s aide Sanjay Singh won the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election. She also expressed her disappointment with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for not appointing a female candidate as the president. [3]The Hindu
21 December 2023: Sakshi Malik (right) and Vinesh Phogat (left) broke down during a press conference after the WFI election at Press Club in New Delhi
References
| ↑1 | Hindustan Times |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | India Today |
| ↑3 | The Hindu |
