India Wrestler Sakshi Malik – The Women who Won Olympics for India

Sakshi Malik is an Indian Bronze Medalist wrestler. She won the bronze medal in the 58 kg category at Rio Olympics 2016 and is an inspiring freestyle wrestler who is the first female to bring home the Olympic medal. She is part of the JSW program and is currently employed in the Indian Railways in the commercial department of Delhi. She was highly inspired by her grandfather Badlu Ram who was also a wrestler.

Sakshi Malik – Statistics

• Full Name : Sakshi Malik
• Nationality : Indian
• Date of Birth : 3rd September 1992
• Age : 28 years
• Profession : Freestyle Wrestler
• Coach : Ishwar Dahiya (2004- 2009) Mandeep Singh (Currently)
• Place of Birth : Mokhra Village in the Rohtak Haryana, India
• Parents : Sukhbir Malik, Sudesh Malik
• Siblings : Sachin Malik
• Marital Status : Married
• Spouse : Satyawart Kadian
• Education : Master’s in Physical Education from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and Haryana.

Sakshi Malik- Early Life

Sakshi Malik was born on 3rd September 1992 in the Rohtak district of Haryana. Born and brought into a conservative society, she was always questioned as, according to the people, wrestling was not meant for girls. She is the daughter of Sukhbir Malik (a bus conductor with Delhi Transport Corporation) and Sudesh Malik (a supervisor at a local health clinic).

She was highly inspired by her grandfather Badlu Ram who was also a wrestler. She was trained at an Akhara in Chotu Ram Stadium, Rohtak, by her coach Ishwar Dahiya at 12 years of age.

Sakshi Malik – Family & Personal Life

Sakshi’s father was a bus conductor with Delhi Transport Corporation, and her mother was a supervisor at a local health clinic. She was highly inspired by her grandfather Badlu Ram who was also a wrestler. Later, she got married to Satyawart Kadian on 2nd April 2017, who was also an International freestyle wrestler.

She is currently a part of JSW Spots Excellence and is also employed by the Indian Railways in Delhi Department.

Sakshi Malik – Career

• 2017: Sakshi Malik represented ‘Colors Delhi Sultan’ in her second edition of the Pro Wrestling League, held in January 2017. She was also featured in the #EveryWomenStrong campaign.
• 2016: In the 2016 Rio Olympics, she defeated Chinese wrestler Zhang Lan in the 58 kg category. She also won a bronze medal at Rio Olympics in the 58 kg wrestling category.
• 2015: In 2015, at the Asian Championships, held in Doha, Qatar, in total five rounds in the 60 kg category fought through two rounds to the third position and earned a bronze medal.
• 2014: She earned a silver medal in Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the 58 kg category by defeating Braxton Stone of Canada by 3-1. In her finals, she defeated Aminat Adeniyi of Nigeria by 4-0 and in World Championships in Tashkent, she defeated Sambou of Senegal by 4-1.
• 2010: She earned a bronze medal in World Junior Championships in the 59 kg category, which was her first success in wrestling.

Sakshi Malik – Medal Record

• Bronze Medal – in 2016 Olympics, Rio de Janeiro (58kg)
• Silver Medal – Commonwealth Games 2014 Glasgow (58 kg)
• Bronze Medal - Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast (62 kg)
• Bronze Medal - Asian Championship 2019 Xi’an (62kg)
• Bronze Medal - Asian Championship 2018 Bishkek (62 kg)
• Silver medal - Asian Championship 2017 New Delhi (60kg)
• Bronze Medal - Asian Championship 2015 Doha (60kg)
• Bronze Medal – Commonwealth Championship 2013 Johannesburg (63 kg)
• Gold Medal - Commonwealth Championship 2017 Johannesburg (62 kg)
• Silver - Asian Junior Championship 2009 Manila (59 kg)
• Gold - Asian Junior Championship 2012 Almaty (63 kg)

Sakshi Malik – Achievements and Awards

Sakshi Malik is the first Indian wrestler to bring home an Olympic medal. Below mentioned is a glimpse of her awards and achievements-

• 2018- She earned a bronze medal in the Asian Wrestling Championship in the 62 kg category
• 2019- She earned a bronze medal in the Asian Wrestling Championship in the 62 kg category
• 2017- Padma Shri
• 2017- She earned a silver medal in the Asian Wrestling Championship in the 60 kg category
• 2016- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
• s2016- She won a bronze medal at Rio Olympics in the 58 kg wrestling category

She also earned a huge amount of cash incentives over Rs. 5.7 crore from The Indian Olympic Association, The Indian Railways, The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, The Government of Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and JSW Group. The National Lok Dal’s contribution was also included.

Sakshi Malik - An Inspiration to Millions

Sakshi inspired people to listen to their inner voice and aimed for the sky. Her grandfather, her parents, and her coach played an important role in her success. Despite all the resistance from her surroundings, her parents did not hesitate to give their best support. She is an inspiration to many young girls & proved that women could do anything they want. Her success story cements the fact that true determination and hard work surely pays.