I wrestle because I love the sport, reveals under-fire Sakshi Malik
Sakshi Malik has hit back at critics saying that she lost focus in the last year but has now realised that the real reason she wrestles is because she loves the sport and not for medals. The female wrestler will go up against China’s Pei Xingru in the upcoming Asian Championships.
Sakshi Malik has endured a rather forgettable 2018 season on the international stage as she performed below expectation in almost every tournament she was involved in. Just like other Olympic medalists, who find it difficult to find motivation after winning a medal at the grandest stage, Sakshi has also faced a similar dilemma after her bronze medal win at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
However, the 26-year old wrestler from Rohtak hit out at her critics who have constantly been doubting over abilities due to her rather underwhelming run of results in the last year. Sakshi suffered a first-round exit at the 2017 World Championship and had to settle for bronze at the 2018 Gold Coast CWG and Asian Games.
“It wasn’t for medals,” she says. “I did this because I loved the sport. All this while, I was chasing medals and putting more pressure on myself. I realised this after losing non-stop for one year. This was the reason I wrestled – for fun. I’d forgotten how it felt to be on the mat and not think about a medal,” Malik told The Indian Express in a recent interview.
Malik will return to the international arena once against as she is scheduled to compete at the Asian Championships that get start on Tuesday. The Padma Shri awardee will face-off against Kawai and China’s Pei Xingru.
“Now I feel I don’t have any (Olympic) medal vedal,” Sakshi says. “I don’t have much time left so in the few years I have, I want to compete as much as I can – whether I win or lose is a different thing,” Malik added.
