Haryana erupted in joy as soon as Sakshi Malik won the first medal for the country in the Rio Olympics. The State Government soon announced the Olympic bronze medallist wrestler a reward of Rs2.5 crore for her feat.
Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij, who is in Rio and witnessed the bronze medal match, congratulated Sakshi for winning the country its first medal and announced the reward. Vij said that the Haryana Government would honour Sakshi Malik with a cash award of Rs2.5 crore as per its sports policy. Sakshi will also be offered a job by the State Government.
Under its sports policy, Haryana Government had announced the cash award for Olympic/Paralympic gold medal winners of Rs6 crore, Rs4 crore for silver medallist and Rs2.5 crore for bronze winners. A total of 21 sportspersons from Haryana were part of the 100-strong Indian contingent which went to the Rio Olympics.
"She has made the State and country proud. I hope that other sportspersons of the state would also prove their mettle in the coming events by winning medals," Vij said on Thursday.
The diminutive 23-year-old hailing from Mokhra village in Rohtak, achieved glory at the Rio Olympics on Wednesday night by bagging India's first medal at the 31st Olympic Games.
She clinched the bronze in the women's freestyle 58kg category with a spirited comeback victory over Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan.
The Rohtak girl, a silver medalist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and bronze winner at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, earned a dramatic come-from-behind win over Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova to make history. The young wrestler had overturned a 0-5 deficit in a hectic second round to script an 8-5 victory in the medal bout.
With this, Sakshi has emerged as the first Indian woman wrestler to bag an Olympic medal by clinching bronze in the 58-kg category of Women's Freestyle Wrestling. She also became the fourth Indian wrestler to win a medal in Olympics after Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt.
Sakshi's first international success came when she won a bronze at the 2010 Junior World Championships in the 59kg category. Four years later, Sakshi won a Gold at the Dave Schultz International Wrestling Tournament in 60kg and the biggest moment of her
career came at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in 2014 where she won a silver medal.
Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki and Chief Minister Manohar lal have also congratulated Sakshi Malik for her achievement.
Manohar lal also spoke to Sakshi's parents, Sukhbir and Sudesh Malik, on phone and congratulated them.
Praising freestyle wrestler Sakshi Malik, the Chief Minister said it is a matter of pride for the entire nation and expressed hope that the Indian contingent would bring home more laurels in the coming days.
He said, “Sakshi Malik has done Haryana and the country proud by opening India's account in the medals tally in the Olympics at Rio in Brazil. I congratulate her and members of her family on her achievement. The way she came from behind to win Bronze at Rio shows her class, grit and determination."
Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other leaders from the State also congratulated Sakshi for her achievement.
For a State (Haryana) which has the worst sex ratio among all the States in the country (879 females against 1,000 males as per the 2011 census) and known for female foeticide, Sakshi has overcome a double barrier — getting a medal for the country and being the first woman in the wrestling field to do so.
Hailing from a small village named Mokhra in the Rohtak district of Haryana, she began her training at the age of 12. Sakshi also
tried playing kabaddi and cricket in her childhood but wrestling became her favourite sport after she started winning bouts.
She took up wrestling in 2002 under coach Ishwar Dahiya and since then has won several tournaments including gold medals in national tournaments.
Meanwhile, celebrations took place at the home of Sakshi Malik on Thursday in Rohtak town after she clinched the bronze medal in Rio.
People from all walks of life including Ministers, politicians, SAI officials made a beeline to Sakshi's house. Also, neighbours, relatives, friends, fellow wrestlers and coaches converged at Sakshi's home.
“I have been receiving so many calls on my mobile phones for congratulatory messages ever since my daughter won the medal at Rio Olympic games,” said Sudesh Malik, mother of Sakshi as the family was busy in distributing sweets to everyone who came to congratulate the wrestler's family.
Sudesh, who had not slept for more than 20 hours till Thursday morning, along with her husband and other family members were glued to the television to watch Sakshi's bout and they all erupted in joy when she won the match.
A visibly happy Sudesh said, “We are elated at her feat. She had promised me that she will get a medal for the country. She has done the country and us proud.”
Sakshi’s brother Sachin Malik also said that there is no better gift on Rakshabandhan than this (Rio win) that a sister can give to her brother.