Rio de Janeiro: The 23-year-old woman wrestler Sakshi Malik ended India’s agonizing wait for a medal at the Rio Olympic Games by winning the bronze in the women’s 58kg freestyle category. Sakshi beat Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan 8-5.
She is the first woman wrestler from India to bag an Olympic medal in wrestling.
Sakshi became the fourth woman athlete from India to win an Olympic medal. The others are : Weightlifter Karnam Malleshwari (2000, Sydney), boxer MC Mary Kom (2012, London) and shuttler Saina Nehwal (2012, London).
Sakshi, a senior clerk with Northern Railways, will be rewarded with a cash award of Rs 60 lakh by her employers Indian Railways for winning bronze.
The Railway Ministry had announced cash awards of Rs 1 cr, Rs 75 lakh and Rs 50 lakh will be given to medal winners at the Olympics and Rs 10 lakh for qualifying.
