Rio: Sakshi Malik’s historic bronze opens medal tally for India

Rio de Janeiro: Bringing laurels to India, wrestler Sakshi Malik on Thursday inaugurated medal tally clinching bronze for the nation in the women’s 58 kg freestyle beating Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova in the Rio Olympics at Rio de Janeiro of Brazil.

In the bronze medal play-off, the 23-year old wrestler surpassed Tynybekova by 8-5.

Setting a record, Sakshi becomes the first Indian female wrestler winning an Olympic medal.

Sakshi had started the tournament on a winning note by defeating Swedish wrestler Malin Johanna Mattsson in the qualification round. She had continued her brilliance in the pre-quarter thumping Republic of Moldov’s Mariana Cherdivara Esanu in a nail-biter.

Seeing her winning the much needed medal for the country, Sakshi’s coach Ishwar Dahiya said lady wrestler has made her village Mokhra and Indian proud.

“This is the result of over ten years of hard work,” said Sakshi.

India, who has send its biggest contingent in the Rio Olympics 2016, is ranked 70^th in the medal tally.

Also read: Rio 2016: Srikanth outshined by Chinese Lin Dan in quarter-finals