Sakshi Malik Explained

Sakshi Malik
Birth Date:1992 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Mokhra, Haryana, India
Height:162cm (64inches) (2016)[1]
Weight: (2016)
Spouse:Satyawart Kadian
Country:India
Event:58 kg freestyle
Coach:Mandeep Singh (2010- till now) Ishwar Dahiya (2004-2009)[2] [3]

Sakshi Malik (born 3 September 1992) is a former Indian freestyle wrestler. At the 2016 Summer Olympics,[4] she won the bronze medal in the 58 kg category, becoming the first Indian female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics.[5] [6] In 2017, the Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri, the country's fourth-highest civilian award and in 2024, she became the first Indian wrestler to feature in Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.[7] [8] She is a part of the JSW Sports Excellence Program, along with fellow female wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Babita Kumari and Geeta Phogat.[9]

Malik had previously won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and the bronze medal at the 2015 Asian Wrestling Championships in Doha.[10] [11] She is one of the leaders of the ongoing 2023 Indian wrestlers' protest against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.[12] She announced her retirement from wrestling after the election of a close aide of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh as WFI chief.[13]

Early life

Malik was born on 3 September 1992 in Mokhra village[14] of Haryana's Rohtak district to Sukhbir, a bus conductor with Delhi Transport Corporation, and Sudesh Malik, a supervisor at a local health clinic.[15] [16] According to her father, she was motivated to take up wrestling from seeing her grandfather Badlu Ram, who was also a wrestler.[15] [17] She began training in wrestling at the age of 12 under a coach, Ishwar Dahiya, at an Akhara in Chhotu Ram Stadium, Rohtak. However, there were four people out there namely, Kuldeep Malik, Ishwar Dahiya, Mandeep Singh, and Rajbir Singh who claimed themselves as the coach of Sakshi Malik.[18] Later on, Sakshi herself submitted an affidavit with the sports department, informing that Ishwar Dahiya and Mandeep Singh are her coaches.[19] [3]

Career

Malik's first success as a professional wrestler in the international arena came in 2010 at the Junior World Championships where she won the bronze medal in the 58 kg  freestyle event.[20] At the 2014 Dave Schultz International Tournament, she won gold in the 60 kg category. And after that, she never stopped and maintained her passion and dedication to the game.[21]

2014

Malik began her campaign at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games winning her quarterfinal bout against Edwige Ngono Eyia of Cameroon by a 4–0 margin. In the semifinal, she faced Braxton Stone of Canada whom she defeated 3–1 to assure herself of a medal. Her opponent in the final was Aminat Adeniyi of Nigeria who defeated her 4–0 in a closely contested bout.[22] At the 2014 World Championships in Tashkent, she faced Anta Sambou of Senegal in the Round of 16, and won the bout 4–1. She crashed out of the tournament after a 1–3 loss to Petra Olli of Finland.[23]

2015

At the 2015 Asian Championships in Doha, Qatar, in a total of five rounds in the 60  kg category, Malik battled through two rounds to finish in the third position and claim a bronze medal. In the first round, she faced Luo Xiaojuan of China but was beaten 4–5 by the fall verdict. She came back strongly in the second round to beat Munkhtuya Tungalag of Mongolia 13–0, before losing in the third round to Yoshimi Kayama of Japan. She was able to clinch the bronze medal in the fourth round, beating Ayaulym Kassymova of Kazakhstan.[24]

2016

Malik qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics by defeating China's Zhang Lan in the semifinal of the 58  kg category at the Olympic World Qualifying Tournament in May 2016.[25] [26] At the Olympics, she won her Round of 32 bout against Sweden's Johanna Mattsson and Round of 16 bout against Moldova's Mariana Cherdivara. After losing to the eventual finalist Valeria Koblova of Russia in the quarterfinal, she qualified for the repechage round where she defeated Pürevdorjiin Orkhon of Mongolia in her first bout. She won the bronze medal after an 8–5 victory over the reigning Asian champion Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan, despite trailing 0–5 at one stage, in the repechage medal playoff, and became India's first female wrestler to win an Olympic medal.[27]

2017

Sakshi Malik represented 'Colors Delhi Sultans' in the second edition of the Pro Wrestling League held in January 2017. She has also been featured in the women's day campaign called #EveryWomanStrong for her sponsor JSW Group.[28]

2022

In 2022, she competed at the Yasar Dogu Tournament held in Istanbul, Turkey. She won the bronze medal in her event at the 2022 Tunis Ranking Series event held in Tunis, Tunisia.[29] She won the gold medal at 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.[30]

2023

She announced her voluntary retirement with grief. After putting the shoes on the table at a press conference, she said she would never participate in wrestling because the close aide of Brijbhushan Singh, MP and former WFI chief was polluting the federation.[31] [32] [33]

Personal life

Malik is currently employed with Indian Railways in the commercial department of its Delhi division, in the Northern Railway zone and she is a part of the JSW Sports Excellence Program.[34] Following her bronze medal win at Rio, she was promoted from senior clerk to gazetted officer rank.

Malik has completed a master's degree in physical education from Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak.[35] [36] In September 2016, she was appointed as the university's wrestling director.

In an interview shortly after the Rio Olympics, Malik said she was engaged to be married to fellow wrestler Satyawart Kadian later in 2016. They got married on 2 April 2017. Kadian is also an international level wrestler and has won medals in Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.[37]

In May 2023, she and other people were arrested by Delhi police for taking part in protests.[38] [39]

Accusation of sexual misconduct

See main article: article. Malik, along with Vinesh Phogat and other wrestlers, accused Brij Bhushan Singh, a member of the Lok Sabha and the president of the Wrestling Federation of India of sexual and mental harassment.[40] [41] They organised Indian wrestlers' protest in January 2023 and demanded the dissolution of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The government's assurance to form an oversight committee to investigate the claims caused the protests to be dropped in January 2023. In April 2023, the protesting wrestlers returned to their rallies, claiming that the government was doing nothing.

Awards and recognition

In popular culture

In 2022, Malik appeared in a short documentary by German broadcaster Deutsche Welle about women in wrestling, featuring young wrestler Payal Sharma. The documentary features Malik training Sharma on her way to be a professional wrestler, as well as a traditionally held gender roles in India and, in particular, women in sports.[51]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sakshi Malik profile — Rio 2016 . Rio2016.com . . 18 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160817094118/https://www.rio2016.com/en/athlete/sakshi-malik . 17 August 2016.
  2. Web site: हिंदी खबर, Latest News in Hindi, हिंदी समाचार, ताजा खबर . 3 March 2016 . 20 June 2021 . 28 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210628134422/https://www.patrika.com/chandigarh-punjab-news/dispute-resolved-mandeep-singh-is-sakshi-malik-s-real-coach-1575579/ . live .
  3. Web site: हिंदी खबर, Latest News in Hindi, हिंदी समाचार, ताजा खबर . 11 February 2016 . 20 June 2021 . 28 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210628020230/https://www.patrika.com/karnal-news/who-is-the-real-coach-of-sakshi-malik-1411669/ . live .
  4. https://olympics.com/en/featured-news/india-wrestling-olympic-games-medals-kd-jadhav-sushil-kumar wrestling medals at the Olympics - From KD Jadhav to Sakshi Malik
  5. Web site: Rio Olympics: Wrestler Sakshi Malik wins India's first medal - bronze in 58kg freestyle . . 18 August 2016 . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151522/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/india-in-olympics-2016/wrestling/Rio-Olympics-Wrestler-Sakshi-Malik-wins-Indias-first-bronze-medal-in-58kg-freestyle/articleshow/53747938.cms%20 . live .
  6. News: Rio 2016: Sakshi Malik, the female wrestler who got India's first medal . BBC News . 18 August 2016 . 18 August 2016 . 18 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220518071114/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-37103450 . live .
  7. News: Nisha. Pahuja. THE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE OF 2024 - Sakshi Malik. Time. 17 April 2024. 17 April 2024.
  8. News: Abhishek. Kumar. Sakshi Malik becomes 1st Indian wrestler to feature in TIME's 100 Most Influential People list. News9Live. 17 April 2024. 17 April 2024. 17 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240417201423/https://www.news9live.com/sports/others-sports/skashi-malik-becomes-1st-indian-wrestler-to-feature-in-times-100-most-influential-people-list-2502352. live.
  9. http://www.jsw.in/sports/wrestling JSW Sports Excellence Program
  10. Web site: SAKSHI MALIK . . 7 March 2016 . 1 August 2016 . https://archive.today/20160801202755/http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/wrestling/1022441/s_malik.html . live .
  11. Web site: Commonwealth Games 2014: Sakshi Malik Gets Silver in Women's 58kg Freestyle Wrestling . NDTVSports.com . 2015-10-27 . 2014-07-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160105204930/http://sports.ndtv.com/commonwealth-games-2014/news/227599-commonwealth-games-2014-sakshi-malik-gets-silver-in-women-s-58kg-freestyle-wrestling . 5 January 2016 . dead.
  12. Web site: India's protesting wrestlers say will toss medals into Ganges . Al Jazeera . 30 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530142809/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/30/indias-protesting-wrestlers-say-will-toss-medals-into-ganges . live .
  13. Web site: I quit wrestling!': Sakshi Malik announces retirement after Sanjay Singh's WFI chief elections win . Indian express . 21 December 2023 . 21 December 2023 . 21 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231221144121/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/i-quit-wrestling-says-sakshi-malik-after-sanjay-singhs-wfi-chief-elections-win-9077730/lite/ . live .
  14. News: Sharma . Nitin . Sakshi Malik has done her village Mokhra and whole India proud: coach Ishwar Singh Dahiya . 21 August 2016 . The Indian Express . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151549/https://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/sakshi-malik-bronze-medal-india-wrestling-wrestler-58-kg-result-coach-2982083/ . live .
  15. News: "Beti Khilao" will become a reality : Sakshi's mom . 18 August 2016 . Times of India . 19 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151543/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Beti-Khilao-will-become-a-reality-Sakhsis-mom/articleshow/53762237.cms . live .
  16. News: Sakshi Malik: All you need to know about winner of India's first medal at Rio . Business Standard India . Business Standard . 18 August 2016 . 18 August 2016 . Team . BS Web . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151524/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/sakshi-malik-all-you-need-to-know-about-winner-of-india-s-first-medal-at-rio-116081800146_1.html . live .
  17. News: I would like others to take inspiration from her, says Sakshi's father . 18 August 2016 . The Hindu . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151526/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/I-would-like-others-to-take-inspiration-from-her-says-Sakshi%E2%80%99s-father/article14576135.ece . live .
  18. Web site: साक्षी मलिक के कोच पर बढ़ा विवाद, मंत्री बोले- बता रही पांच कोच, किसे दें इनाम? . 20 June 2021 . 24 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624224351/https://www.amarujala.com/chandigarh/controversy-on-olympian-wrestler-sakshi-malik-coach . live .
  19. Web site: Ishwar, Mandeep my coach, Sakshi to Haryana govt . 20 June 2021 . 24 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205452/https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/sports/cash-award-302774 . live .
  20. News: Sakshi Malik: From Rohtak to Rio . 18 August 2016 . The Hindu . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151506/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/From-Rohtak-to-Rio-%E2%80%94-the-story-of-Sakshi-Malik/article14576104.ece . live .
  21. News: Team . BS Web . 2016-08-18 . Sakshi Malik: All you need to know about winner of India's first medal at Rio . Business Standard India . 2021-02-03 . 13 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210213235800/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/sakshi-malik-all-you-need-to-know-about-winner-of-india-s-first-medal-at-rio-116081800146_1.html . live .
  22. Web site: Glasgow 2014 - Sakshi Malik Profile . g2014results.thecgf.com . 2015-10-27 . 2015-07-30 . 1 August 2016 . https://archive.today/20160801202755/http://g2014results.thecgf.com/athlete/wrestling/1022441/s_malik.html . live .
  23. Web site: Sakshi Malik exits in quarterfinal of Freestyle women's 60kg on Day 3 of Wrestling World Championships at Tashkent - India at Sports . India at Sports . 2015-10-27 . en . 2014-09-10 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151512/http://indiaatsports.in/news/2014/09/10/sakshi-malik-exits-in-quarterfinal-of-freestyle-womens-60kg-on-day-3-of-wrestling-world-championships-at-tashkent/1003974 . dead .
  24. Web site: Sakshi, Lalita win bronze in Asian Wrestling Championship - Times of India . The Times of India . 2015-10-27 . 2015-05-09 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151510/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/wrestling/Sakshi-Lalita-win-bronze-in-Asian-Wrestling-Championship/articleshow/47211667.cms . live .
  25. News: Biswal . Sattwik . Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi Malik grab Rio 2016 berths . 18 August 2016 . India Today . 7 May 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151552/https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/other-sports/story/wrestlers-vinesh-phogat-sakshi-malik-grab-rio-2016-berths-322220-2016-05-07 . live .
  26. News: 9517_deepalakshmi . 2016-08-18 . From Rohtak to Rio — the story of Sakshi Malik . en-IN . The Hindu . 2021-02-03 . 0971-751X . 9 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210209093954/https://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/From-Rohtak-to-Rio-%E2%80%94-the-story-of-Sakshi-Malik/article14576104.ece . live .
  27. News: Sakshi Malik wins bronze medal in women's wrestling 58kg category, opens India's account at Rio 2016 Olympics . 17 August 2016 . The Indian Express . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151508/https://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/sakshi-malik-bronze-medal-wrestling-wrestler-58-kg-bout-match-result-video-streaming-2981836/ . live .
  28. Web site: http://www.prowrestlingleague.com/player/.
  29. Web site: 2022 Zouhaier Sghaier Results Book . https://web.archive.org/web/20220719112138/https://cdn.uww.org/s3fs-public/2022-07/final-book-zouhaier_sghaier_0.pdf?VersionId=7Eym.guK9SHiyC6Bsh3Jnsong8qK_Syt . 19 July 2022 . 19 July 2022 . United World Wrestling.
  30. Web site: 2022-08-05 . CWG 2022: Sakshi Malik Wins Gold in Women's Wrestling Freestyle 62Kg . 2022-08-05 . News18 . en . 5 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805192341/https://www.news18.com/news/sports/cwg-2022-sakshi-malik-wins-gold-in-womens-wrestling-freestyle-62kg-5696551.html . live .
  31. Web site: Srivastava . Shantanu . Sakshi quits wrestling in anguish . Hindustan Times . 21 December 2023 . 23 December 2023 . 23 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223043232/https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/sakshi-quits-wrestling-in-anguish-101703181469670-amp.html . live .
  32. Web site: Sakshi Malik: Indian Olympian quits sport over new wrestling chief . BBC Home . 22 December 2023 . 23 December 2023 . 22 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231222201840/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-67799019 . live .
  33. Web site: 'I quit wrestling': Sakshi Malik says she won't compete under presidency of Brij Bhushan loyalist . The Times of India . 21 December 2023 . 23 December 2023 . 23 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223022849/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/wrestling/i-quit-wrestling-sakshi-malik-says-she-wont-compete-under-presidency-of-brij-bhushan-loyalist/articleshow/106184440.cms?from=mdr . live .
  34. News: Sakshi Malik to be Promoted as Gazetted Railway Officer . 19 August 2016 . NDTV.com . 19 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151500/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sakshi-malik-to-be-promoted-as-gazetted-railway-officer-1445812 . live .
  35. News: This is the result of over 10 years of hard work: Sakshi Malik after bronze . 19 August 2016 . Hindustan Times . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151509/https://www.hindustantimes.com/olympics/this-is-the-result-of-over-ten-years-of-hard-work-sakshi-malik-after-bronze-at-rio-olympics/story-ja2qsjX9QHShlIhZBOiUxO.html . live .
  36. News: Girl with dream to wrestle . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820200505/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160819/jsp/nation/story_103268.jsp#.V7cuKCSTMV4 . dead . 20 August 2016 . 19 August 2016 . The Calcutta Telegraph . 18 August 2016.
  37. News: Wedding bells for Sakshi after Olympic high, to tie the knot with wrestler Satyawart . 28 August 2016 . India Today . 5 September 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151555/https://www.indiatoday.in/rio-olympics-2016/india-olympics/story/sakshi-malik-to-marry-wrestler-satyawart-kadian-339348-2016-09-05 . live .
  38. Web site: 'Dictatorship': Protesting Indian wrestlers charged with rioting . 31 May 2023 . 31 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230531063806/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2023/5/28/world-is-watching-indian-police-drag-away-protesting-wrestlers . live .
  39. Web site: 28 May 2023 . Wrestlers Including Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat Detained By Police Trying To March To New Parliament - In Pics . 2 June 2023 . 2 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602083739/https://www.outlookindia.com/sports/wrestlers-including-sakshi-malik-vinesh-phogat-detained-by-police-trying-to-march-to-new-parliament-in-pics-photos-290101?photo-1 . live .
  40. Web site: Quint . The . 2023-04-24 . Timeline: January to April, Wrestlers Return to Restart Protest 3 Months Later . 2023-05-05 . TheQuint . en . 26 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426094201/https://www.thequint.com/sports/wrestling/timeline-wrestlers-protest-vs-wfi-brij-bhushan-sexual-harassment-sakshi-malik-vinesh . live .
  41. News: Brij Bhushan was not detained but we were, says protesting wrestler Sakshi Malik . India Today . en . 30 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530054159/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/brij-bhushan-was-not-detained-but-we-were-says-protesting-wrestler-sakshi-malik-2385877-2023-05-29 . live .
  42. Web site: Ministry of Home Affairs: Padma Awards 2017 . mha.nic.in . 25 January 2017.
  43. News: P.V Sindhu, Sakshi Malik, Dipa Karmakar to get Khel Ratna; Ajinkya Rahane named for Arjuna Award . 22 August 2016 . The Indian Express . 22 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151459/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/pv-sindhu-sakshi-malik-dipa-karmakar-to-get-khel-ratna-ajinkya-rahane-named-for-arjuna-award-2990966/ . live .
  44. News: PV Sindhu to receive Rs 2 crore from Delhi government . 20 August 2016 . The Indian Express . 20 August 2016 . 23 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160823213700/http://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/pv-sindhu-to-receive-rs-2-crore-from-delhi-government-2986804/ . live .
  45. News: Sakshi Malik awarded Rs 2.5 crore by Haryana government . 18 August 2016 . The Indian Express . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151521/https://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/sakshi-malik-awarded-rs-2-5-crore-by-haryana-government-2982505/ . live .
  46. News: MP to give Rs 25 lakh to Sakshi, offers training to Deepa . 18 August 2016 . Business Standard . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151456/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/mp-to-give-rs-25-lakh-to-sakshi-offers-training-to-deepa-116081801351_1.html . live .
  47. News: Sakshi Malik set to get richer by at least Rs 2.5 crore after bronze medal at Rio 2016 Olympics . 17 August 2016 . The Indian Express . 17 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151550/https://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/sakshi-malik-set-to-get-richer-by-at-least-rs-2-5-crore-after-bronze-medal-2982125/ . live .
  48. News: Haryana opens arms and wallet for Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik . 28 August 2016 . The Hindustan Times . 25 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151533/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-opens-arms-and-wallet-for-olympic-medallist-sakshi-malik/story-JzGUY502IYQyajKWNrPJcO.html . live .
  49. News: Sakshi Malik to receive Rs 60 lakh from Indian Railways for her Bronze medal win at Rio 2016 Olympics . 18 August 2016 . The Indian Express . 18 August 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151542/https://indianexpress.com/sports/rio-2016-olympics/sakshi-malik-to-receive-rs-60-lakh-from-indian-railways-for-her-bronze-medal-win-2982765/ . live .
  50. News: Sakshi Malik appointed wrestling director of Rohtak university . 4 September 2016 . The Indian Express . 4 September 2016 . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151534/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/sakshi-malik-appointed-wrestling-director-of-rohtak-university-3013705/ . live .
  51. Web site: How to Wrestle with Gender Norms and Win . Deutsche Welle . .

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