On August 18, Sakshi Malik became the first Indian female wrestler ever to win an Olympic medal when she clinched the bronze in the 58kg category. That also ended Team India’s medal drought at Rio. The 24-year-old Rohtak girl is now a role model for girls and the face of Whisper’s #Likeagirlandproud campaign. An email chat with Sakshi.
How challenging was it to be a female wrestler while growing up?
When I was growing up, I was subjected to a lot of taunts by people in my village, near my house… but with my parents and my coach by my side, I learnt how to turn a deaf ear to those comments and dedicate myself to the sport I enjoy so much. I trained day in and day out, believed in myself and the rest, as they, say is history.
In a contact sport like wrestling, how do you manage to keep yourself from getting injured?
Having been a professional wrestler for 12 years now, I have developed a strong muscle memory which helps me anticipate the moves of my opponent and prevent injuries more often than not. As an athlete, it’s impossible not to be injured, but the frequency of the injury can be reduced by staying fit and following the instructions and examples of coaches and seniors. As far as my fitness regimen is concerned, I train for three hours, twice a day every day.
In your Olympic bronze medal match, you clinched victory from the jaws of defeat right at the very end... what kept you going?
When Vinesh (Phogat) got injured (at the Olympics), that hurt me emotionally. And I knew the onus was on me to win a medal for India. I believed that I could come back from being 5-0 down and with just 10 seconds to go, I went for it.
Coming to your association with Whisper, how far do you identify with the tagline #Likeagirlandproud?
#Likeagirlandproud is much more than a tagline for me. Having grown up and being told that wrestling is not a sport for girls, I can proudly claim today that I fought like a girl and won like a girl and made my country proud. Today I am privileged and proud to be #Likeagirl and I hope my story inspires all girls to feel the same and live the same.
I have always believed that girls can do anything, anywhere and at any time as long as they are confident. And Whisper has been a frontrunner in promoting that message amongst young women. Confidence and self-belief are the two things that both Whisper and I stand for and relate with.
What’s that one instance when you have been like a girl and been proud of it?
I have always been very proud to be a girl and have considered myself very lucky that I was born as one. The most recent moment where I have felt proud to be a girl was when I ran with the Indian Tricolour on my back after winning the bronze medal at Rio. It was a dream come true. I come from a state where many girls are not allowed to step out of their houses and for one of those girls to have been able to carry the weight of the entire nation’s expectation was perhaps the best feeling for a girl.
While being the face of a sport like wrestling, what are the girly things you like to do in your free time?
Behind the wrestler in me is a young woman who likes having fun and hanging out with friends. Like most girls my age, I like shopping, going out and dressing up!
If a biopic is made on your life, who would you have want to play Sakshi Malik on screen?
I recently met Sonakshi Sinha and the spunk in her was something I could strongly relate to. If a biopic is ever made about me I would love her to portray me.
Finally, what’s your aim for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?
My only aim for Tokyo 2020 is to change the colour of my medal!
My message for Sakshi is....
Tell t2@abp.in
