Sakshi Malik is one of the most recognisable female wrestlers in India. She is the only woman wrestler to win an individual medal at 2016 the Olympic Games. She won the Bronze Medal in the Women’s 58KG Freestyle Wrestling. She has been recently fighting for women’s rights in the wrestling landscape of India.
Personal Details
Name | Sakshi Malik |
Nationality | Indian |
Date of Birth | 3rd September 1992 |
Place of Birth | Mokhra, Haryana |
Height | 5 ft 4 Inches |
Weight | 58 KG |
Sport | Freestyle Wrestling |
Spouse | Satyawart Khadian |
Early Life
Sakshi Malik was born in Mokhra which is in Haryana. Her father tells everyone that she was motivated to take to wrestling after seeing her grandfather Badlu Ram who was a wrestler as well. At that time Wrestling was not considered as a sport for girls in that village. And therefore the villagers would say all sorts of things when she went out to wrestle. Her parents were not of the same thinking as they wanted Sakshi to do whatever she wanted and they supported her. Sakshi Malik started wrestling training at the age of 12 under Ishwar Dahiya at Chhotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak. Sakshi Malik was doing a lot of things at once. She was focusing on her wrestling training as well as her studies and she wanted to get a job with the Indian Railways. Sakshi Malik was having to wrestle boys when she was younger as there were not a lot of girls at the time. Sakshi Malik improved her quickness in the mat and locals were mean to Sakshi sometimes but her resolve to do something for India kept her going.
Career
In the year 2010, Sakshi Malik tasted success for the first time. She won a Bronze Medal at the Junior World Championships in the 58 KG Freestyle Wrestling category. It was the 2014 Commonwealth Games which changed it all for Sakshi Malik. She won her quarter final match 10-0 and then in the semi final she beat her opponent from Canada 8-5. She reached the final but was beaten 10-0 and she won a Silver Medal at the Commonwealth Games. In the 2015 Asian Championships In Doha, Sakshi Malik won the Bronze Medal in the 60 KG Freestyle Wrestling category.
This was an important tournament for Sakshi on the Road to 2016 Olympics. Sakshi Malik won a Bronze Medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the 62 KG Freestyle Wrestling category. She then bettered her performance in the 2022 Commonwealth Games where she completed the set by winning the Gold Medal in the 62 KG Freestyle Wrestling category. She beat Ana Gosinez of Canada. She also won 3 more medals at the Asian Championships. In 2017, she won the Silver Medal in the 60 KG Freestyle Wrestling. And in 2018 and 2019, Sakshi Malik won the Bronze Medal in the 62 KG Freestyle Wrestling category. Sakshi Malik announced her retirement in 2023 as a protest against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as he was accused of sexual misconduct against female wrestlers.
2016 Rio Olympics
Sakshi Malik had a very memorable campaign at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She won her qualifying match by 5-3 and that took her to the Round of 16 where she beat her opponent as she won the last point in a score of 5-5. She lost her quarter final against her opponent from Russia Valeria Koblova. As a result she got a chance in the repechage rounds. She faced an opponent from Mongolia and she beat her 12-3. Sakshi Malik had created history as she won the Bronze Medal at the Rio Olympics. This was the crowning achievement of her career.
Personal Life
Sakshi Malik is employed with the Indian Railways in the commercial department of the Delhi Division. She has also completed a masters degree in Physical Education from Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak. In September 2016, Sakshi Malik was appointed as the Wrestling director of that University. Sakshi Malik got married to Satyawart Khadian In 2017.
The Fight for Women’s Wrestling In India
In the month of January 2023, Sakshi Malik along with her compatriots Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia took to the streets. This was a very unfortunate turn of events. They were protesting against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh and they accused him of sexually exploiting women’s wrestlers especially those who do not have the name that some of the Olympics stars have. The wrestlers wanted the Prime Minister and Home Minister to intervene but an oversight committee was formed and the protest was called off for the time being.
However on 23rd April, the wrestlers resumed their protest after a number of women were trying to get a police complaint done against the man but the police were not registering an FIR. It was saddening that the Government did not do any substance In this situation and the Supreme Court of India had to intervene and then two FIRs were lodged in the POCSO Act. As a result of all the pressure he had to resign as the President of the Wrestling Federation of India and his MP seat was also taken from him. Currently there is no protest and everything looks to have gone back to normal.
Achievements and Awards for Sakshi Malik
Sakshi Malik won the Bronze Medal at the 2016 Olympics in the Women’s 58KG Freestyle Wrestling category.
She won a Gold Medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the Women’s 62 KG Freestyle Wrestling category.
She won a Silver Medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in the 58 KG Freestyle Wrestling category.
Sakshi Malik also won a Bronze Medal at the 2018 Asian Games in the 62 KG Freestyle Wrestling category.
She won a Silver Medal and a Bronze Medal at the 2017 and 2015 Asian Championships in the 60 KG Freestyle Wrestling category.
Sakshi Malik won 2 Bronze Medals at the 2018 and 2019 Asian Championships In the 62 KG Freestyle Wrestling category.
She was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017.
She was awarded the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2016
Sakshi Malik was promoted to Gazetted Rank Officer by the Indian Railways after winning the Bronze Medal at the Rio Olympics.
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