Asian Games | I want to win a medal every time I step on the mat, reveals Sakshi Malik

08/09/2018

Sakshi Malik claims that she will head to Indonesia with nothing in her mind apart from winning a medal for India at a recent press conference in Lucknow. Malik also admitted that she needed to get stronger mentally as the Indian team aims to bring back gold from the upcoming Asiad.

Indian wrestler Sakshi Malik had first ensured a place for herself in the Indian record books by becoming the first Indian female wrestler to win a medal in the Olympics, in Rio 2016. Malik won the bronze medal in the women’s freestyle 58 kg category, which made her just the fourth female Olympic medalist from the country.

Post that win, Sakshi has also won gold at the Commonwealth Championship and won a bronze in the recently concluded 2018 Gold Coast CWG. But a run of disheartening losses off late meant that Sakshi’s spot in the wrestling squad to travel Indonesia for this year’s Asian Games was under threat. However, the 25-year old remained adamant that she wanted to do well for India and will head to Jakarta with only one aim in mind, to secure a medal for her country.

"We want to win medal every time we step on the mat. Only we know how we face people when we return without medal. It becomes so tough to answer when people ask questions. We also want to perform well so that no one points fingers at us and that we face no questions for which we have no answer," Sakshi told PTI sources after a training session in Lucknow.

Malik, who is married to fellow wrestler Satyawart Kadian, has been in a rut on the mat off late and admitted she needed to step up her game ahead of the quadrennial event later this month.

"After Rio, I have done well in many championships. There are always ups and downs in athletes' life but we always try to give our 100 percent and bring laurels for the country. There is no lack of effort during training.

"I need to be strong mentally and get better. JSW has helped me in taking help of a sports psychologist. I have been advised to meditate and develop positive thinking and think about my strong moves. Now I meditate and sometimes I try to analyse my performance, why I am losing, before I sleep," the wrestler said.

At the Yasar Dogu international tournament, Sakshi won the qualification round before she lost due to a fall against Elmira Gambarova in the 62 kg category. Malik, however, revealed that she had not set herself any specific target for the upcoming Asian Games.

"I had set a target of gold medal for myself at the CWG also but now I am not thinking about the colour of the medal. I just want to execute on the mat what I am doing while training. Rest is up to God," she added.

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