Rio Olympics Bronze medallist wrestler Sakshi Malik was accorded a grand welcome by people and Haryana Government as she arrived in Delhi on Wednesday morning from Rio de Janeiro. The wrestler was given a rousing reception at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and was received by the Ministers of the ruling BJP in Haryana.
Haryana's Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij, who was present in Rio as head of state delegation, also accompanied the wrestler on the return flight.
"It was my dream and hard work of years... Since long I had thought of going to the Olympics to win a medal for the country. It finally happened in Rio," said a visibly happy Sakshi, who got a first medal for India at the Olympics by winning bronze in the 58-kg women freestyle wrestling event.
Sakshi, who stopped at New Delhi's Haryana Bhawan for sometime, while talking to the mediapersons said, "I got a very good welcome. lot of people from my village and state came to receive me." "I will rest for a few days and then begin the training schedule again," she added.
Sakshi then travelled to Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district for a grand felicitation function, where Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar along with his senior cabinet colleagues Capt Abhimanyu and OP Dhankar, among others, welcomed the star athlete.
Sakshi's motorcade delayed reaching Bahadurgarh town as she was stopped and honoured by people from various villages in Haryana along the Delhi to Rohtak highway. The wrestler was accompanied by her mother Sudesh and father Sukhbir Malik.
At the function in Bahadurgarh, Sakshi was handed over a cheque of Rs 2.5 crore by the Chief Minister for her achievement. Khattar said Sakshi, who is employed with the Railways, would be soon promoted. "We have also offered her a class II job in the Haryana Government. She has said that she will think over it and decide," he said. Apart from this, the Chief Minister also honoured Sakshi's coach Mandeep Singh with cash award of Rs 10 lakh. On her request, the Chief Minister also announced to give cash award of Rs 10 lakh to her second coach Kuldeep.
The State Government also announced that a sports nursery and stadium would be set up in Mokhra, the native village of Sakshi, in Rohtak district.
later, Sakshi expressed her gratitude to the Chief Minister for showering on her all the encouragement. On the occasion, Sakshi, in her brief speech, said "I want everyone to support me in future as well so that I can win more medals for my country."
Sakshi made multiple stops before she reached her native village, Mokhra, later in the day. She made brief stopovers at a couple of villages in Rohtak district, including Ismaila village, where she met her maternal uncle. Sakshi travelled in an open bedecked vehicle, which had pictures of CM Khattar on one side with felicitation messages written for the bronze medallist.
Huge crowds had lined up at different places with garlands for Sakshi. Some even put garlands of currency notes around her neck while others, mostly youngsters, clicked selfies with her. Sakshi was showered with flower petals and offered sweets.
later in the evening, a grand function was organized in Rohtak to honour Sakshi. Besides state Ministers Ram Bilas Sharma and Manish Kumar Grover, leaders including Congress MP Deependra Hooda, INlD's Abhay Singh Chautala, Congress MlA Anand Singh Dangi among others reached Rohtak to welcome and congratulate Sakshi.