Sakshi Malik honed her wrestling skills at Lucknow also

Samarth Srivastava
Published on: 24 Aug 2016 11:05 AM GMT
Sakshi Malik honed her wrestling skills at Lucknow also
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samm-100x100 Samarth Srivastava

Lucknow: While the entire country is showering accolades on Rio Olympics bronze medalist woman wrestler Sakshi Malik for her spectacular success but very few know that her journey to Rio passed through Lucknow also.

Sakshi, during her twelve year training regime to reach where she is today, spent some time in Lucknow at the regional centre of Sports Authority of India (SAI) to learn finer points of wrestling.

The coaches and the support staff of SAI, Lucknow has been ecstatic over the fact that Sakshi was trained here for good two years between 2013 and 2016. It was, indeed, a befitting occasion for SAI, Lucknow to celebrate her success which they did after Sakshi won a bronze medal at Rio Olympics, a feat worth emulating.

Talking to Newstrack.com, one of Sakshi’s coaches Kripa Shankar Vishnoi, an Arjuna awardee himself, recalled how hardworking and focused Sakshi was when she was trained under him. “I always saw a spark in her and was convinced, she would go places,’’ a jubilant coach said.

“Sakshi bagging bronze medal has brought revolution in the game of wrestling. She is a laborious wrestler who completed her practice sessions sincerely. It was her passion which helped her shine in the Olympics. Sakshi’s triumph will open further avenues for other women wrestlers in the coming Olympics,” Vishnoi told Newstrack.com while showering unmitigated praise on the diminutive woman wrestler.

He said the success of Sakshi has already infused a sense of pride and an element of inspiration among other athletes being trained at SAI centre of Lucknow. ‘’ We would like her to visit the centre in near future as a host of players and supporting personnel are looking forward to meet the champion though she has desired to spend some time with her family,’’ Vishnoi said.

Incidentally, Sakshi Malik returned to India to a tumultuous welcome. Earlier, on reaching New Delhi, an overwhelmed Sakshi Malik promised the nation to win gold for India in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Also read: Lucknowites recall silver medallist PV Sindhu’s appearance at a tourney

Samarth Srivastava

Samarth Srivastava

Employed as sub-editor at newstrack.com. A learner, who loves covering sports, entertainment and defence kind of stuff.

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