Sakshi Malik

Sakshi Malik (born 3 September 1992) is an Indian freestyle wrestler who won a bronze medal in the 58 kg category at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal. This historic achievement in a sport traditionally dominated by men was a watershed moment for women's sports in India. Born in Rohtak, Haryana, Sakshi came from a family that supported her wrestling aspirations despite societal pressure against women in combat sports. She began wrestling at the age of 12 under coach Ishwar Dahiya and quickly showed exceptional talent. She won gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2015 Asian Championships. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Sakshi won the bronze medal in the 58 kg freestyle wrestling event, defeating Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan in the repechage round. The victory was particularly significant as it came on the same day that Indian wrestler Narsingh Yadav was disqualified from the Olympics due to a doping violation. Sakshi has continued to compete at the highest level, winning medals at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. She has also become an advocate for women's wrestling in India and has been vocal about the need for better infrastructure and support for female athletes.