Sakshi creates history with sensational win in bronze Play-off

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 18 (PTI) Sakshi Malik today scriptedhistory by becoming the first woman wrestler from India to bagan Olympic medal and only fourth female athlete from thecountry to climb to the podium at the biggest sporting eventin the world with a bronze medal finish at the Rio Games,here. The 23-year-old from Haryana, a silver medallist at the2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and bronze winner at the 2014Incheon Asian Games, earned a dramatic come-from-behind winover Kyrgysztan’s Aisuluu Tynybekova to script history. Weight-lifter Karnam Malleshwari was the first Indian towin an Olympic medal for India when she won a bronze at the2000 Sydney Games. Boxer MC Marykom and shuttler Saina Nehwal had won abronze each at the 2012 London Games. Overall, Sakshi has won India’s fifth wrestling medal inthe Olympic Games. KD Jadhav was the first wrestler from India to win amedal in Olympics with his bronze at the 1952 Helsinki Games. Sushil Kumar, who missed out of the Rio Games after acontroversy, bagged the second wrestling bronze medal at the2008 Beijing Games before clinching a silver at the LondonGames where Yogeshwar Dutt also pocketed a bronze. The inspiring show by Sakshi lifted the gloom that haddescended over the Indian contingent that spent 11 dayswaiting for a medal. Sakshi finally opened India’s account after fellowwrestler Vinesh Phogat bowed out following an unfortunateligament tear in her right knee during her quarterfinal bout. It is India’s 25th medal in Olympic Games. PTI AT ATKAT