Chandigarh: ‘Double leg attack’ is the strongest point of international wrestler Sakshi Malik who scripted history by winning a bronze medal at Rio Olympics, feels her coach Ishwar Singh Dahiya.
Dahiya, who first trained Sakshi, on Thursday was ecstatic over the historic achievement of the Rohtak girl, saying she made Haryana and country proud by clinching a medal.
He still remembers when Sakshi along with her mother came to him for training in wrestling in the year 2004 at Chhotu Ram Stadium Wrestling Academy in Rohtak despite opposition by some local people.
“There were some people at that time who opposed the girls opting for wrestling,” Dahiya recalls.
“But I never believed in not giving training to girls so I trained Sakshi. Today you see a local girl made the country proud by winning a medal at Rio Olympic games,” Dahiya told PTI.
Saskhi’s mother Sudesh Malik also shared how she faced pressure from the society initially as people questioned her decision of putting Sakshi into wrestling. Though later when Sakshi started winning medals, people stopped opposing, her mother said in Rohtak.
Asked about the strongest point of Sakshi in the game, 60-year-old Dahiya said, “double leg attack is the strongest point of Sakshi in wrestling to tame her opponent.”
Dahyia said he still coaches Sakshi whenever she comes to Rohtak.
At present, Dahiya who has retired as district sports officer, is coaching around 120 trainees — both boys and girls at Chotu Ram Stadium in Rohtak.
Wrestler Sakshi Malik ended India’s painful wait for a medal at the Rio Olympics by clinching the bronze in the 58kg category, pulling off a sensational 8-5 victory over Aisuluu Tynybekova in the Play-off bout.
The 23-year-old from Rohtak became only the fourth woman athlete from India to win an Olympic medal as she earned the dramatic win after falling behind 0-5 in the do-or-die bout.
PTI