Sakshi Malik was one of the top performers in the recently concluded Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games as she brought home her maiden gold medal. She also won an Olympic medal in wrestling for India and believes that a biopic on her journey will only inspire more women to consider a career in sports.
While speaking in a recent interview, she looked back at her journey so far and expressed a desire to inspire other young girls to take up the sport. She said, “I am the first woman to have won an Olympic medal in wrestling for India. Maine jab wrestling shuru ki thi toh sirf 3-4 ladkiyan thi training mein. Parents ko log bolte thi ki ladki ko ladko jaise sports mein daaldiya, iska physique kharaab hojaayega, shaadi bhi koi nahi karega, kaise kapde pehenti hai.”
Malik shunned these critic defeating Canadian competitor Ana Gonzalez in the women’s freestyle 62kg final, to win the CWG gold after her bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 29-year-old feels a biopic on her life will help and motivate women in the country to make a career in sports.
"Main chahti hun ki mujh pe biopic bane taaki logon ko pata chale ki kaise ek gaon ki ladki ne Olympic medal tak ka safar tay kiya aur ab aage bhi achha kar rahi hai. Main toh kehti hoon chahe koi bhi [actor ho usmein], lekin bas banalo", she said.
Bahut khushi hoti hai ek soch badalte hue dekh: Malik
The Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awardee - Sakshi Malik is born in Rohtak and trains at Inspire Institute of Sports in Karnataka and feels proud to have inspired young girls across the country, to take up sports.
“Bahut farak padha hai. Mere aur baaki ki female wrestlers ke medals lane se, badlav aaya hai. Now parents themselves are bringing their daughters (to training). Gaon se bhi ladkiyan aa rahi hain. Bahut khushi hoti hai ek soch badalte hue dekh. Ab sab parents sochte hain ki humaari ladki bhi jaa sakti hai aur kushti jaise sport mein medal laa sakti hai.”