Sakshi Malik : I want to become a double Olympic medallist like Sushil Kumar

Sakshi Malik : I want to become a double Olympic medallist like Sushil Kumar

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Sakshi Malik is not resting easy after becoming the first Indian woman wrestler to win a medal at the Rio Olympics and is now looking to equal Sushil Kumar’s feat by winning another medal at Tokyo in 2020. The 24-year-old’s immediate target, though, is to do well at the World Championships.

"My aim is to equal Sushil Kumar's historic feat by winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo in 2020. I am completely focussed to achieve that goal. I want to become a double Olympic medallist just like Sushil ji," Sakshi said, reported PTI.

"For the Olympics, one has to start his/her training four years in advance and I have already started my training accordingly," she added.

After her heroics at Rio, Sakshi Malik is now preparing to dazzle at the upcoming Asian Championship and the World Championships. She said, "My target this year is to do well at the World Championships. As of now, I am also planning to participate in the Asian Championship, to be held in Delhi, in May. Besides, I am looking forward to bagging gold medals at next year's Commonwealth and Asian Games.”

I am trying to iron out all my flaws and train better.

Sakshi Malik

The Haryana-born girl has also spoken about how her life has changed since her bronze medal at the 2016 Games, and how that has also increased the expectations surrounding her.

"Life has changed for good. People recognise me a lot more now and it gives a very good feeling. It also inspires me to do better.

"Yes, no doubt the pressure has increased manifold and every time I come on the mat there is a huge burden of expectations that I carry on my shoulders. But that also motivates me to work harder and improve upon my game. I am trying to iron out all my flaws and train better.

"In a way that helps me prepare better and I am more confident now when I fight my bouts," she added.

Sakshi’s franchise Delhi Sultans had failed to qualify for the semi-finals in this season of the Pro Wrestling League. However, Sakshi is happy with the experience she has gained after fighting against the foreign stars.

"Personally for me, I did win all my bouts and that gives a lot of satisfaction. I also learned a lot from other foreign wrestlers. Last season also I learned many new things and that had helped me during the Olympics.

This time also I managed to pick up a few tricks of the trade from some experienced wrestlers.

Sakshi Malik

"This time also I managed to pick up a few tricks of the trade from some experienced wrestlers and I am sure that will hold me in good stead at the international tournaments. It was an invaluable experience, even though my team failed to make the cut.

"I think Bajrang Punia's injury cost us the most. Otherwise, we had a very good team. We fought well but lost quite a few close bouts. There were a couple of upsets as well that had turned things around. We also lost four out of five tosses and some of our best wrestlers were blocked by the opposition teams. So luck was another factor that did not favour us too much this time," Sakshi explained.

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