Female wrestler Sakshi Malik has delivered India its first medal of the 2016 Rio Games, sending a nation into ecstasy. But her journey to the Olympic podium has not been easy. After a gritty performance at the 58kg women's wrestling category she won bronze, becoming the first Indian female wrestler and the fourth Indian woman to win an Olympic medal. "I never thought I would become the first woman wrestler from
India to bag an Olympic medal in wrestling," she told The Hindu newspaper. "I hope the remaining wrestlers will also do well."
Struggle to the top
She was born in India's Haryana state, where women were for some time not allowed to take part in wrestling events.
The 23-year-old started training young, having gained support from her parents to pursue the sport. Media reports say locals initially berated her parents, telling them that their daughter would become undesirable to potential suitors.
Malik began training at the age of 12
But she went on to earn a silver medal at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and walked away with the bronze at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
Thursday's bronze medal, was a "result of 12 years of dedication", she said. "I never gave up to the end. In the last round, I had to give my maximum, I had the self belief," she said.
Her father, Sukhvir Malik, told the BBC that "Sakshi is now known to the entire country". "People have been celebrating outside our house since last night", he said.
He added that Sakshi was inspired by her grandfather, a wrestler, to start playing the sport.
"She trained extremely hard - day and night. She had promised me [she would] bring a medal and she has done that."
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