Sakshi Malik is first Indian woman wrestler to win Olympic medal
Q. Who became the first Indian woman wrestler to win bronze at the Rio Olympics 2016?- Published on 19 Aug 16a. Sakshi Malik
b. Karnam Malleshwari
c. Geeta Phogat
d. None of the above
ANSWER: Sakshi Malik
Opening India’s account at the Rio Olympics, Sakshi Malik became the first woman wrestler from India to bag the Olympic medal and only the fourth female athlete from the country to stand at the pinnacle of world sport.
- The 23-year-old wrestler from Haryana is also a silver medallist at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Bronze winner at the 2014 Inchoeon Asian Games.
- She beat Kyrgyzstan’s Aisuluu Tynbekova 8-5 to script history.
- This is the first medal for a lady wrestler in India at the Olympics.
- It is also India’s 25th medal since 1947.
- The UP government has also announced the Rani Laxmi Bai award for bravery and outstanding achievement of women goes to Sakshi for her tremendous feat.
- Sakshi clinched bronze in the 58 kg category freestyle wrestling; she also received INR 50 lakh cash award and promotion to gazetted officer’s grade.
- Indian railway employee Sakshi also receives INR 2.50 crore from the Haryana state government in honour of her achievement.
- Meanwhile South Korea won its first taekwondo gold medal at the Rio Olympics restoring pride to a country that has invented the game.
- Seventh ranked Sohul Kim beat Serbia’s Tijana Bogdanovic to find their form. Kim won 7-6 in the 49 kg category.
- Bronze medals were won by Patimat Abakorova of Azerbaijan and Panipak Wongpattanakit of Thailand.
