NEW DELHI, Aug 24: Olympic bronze medal winning wrestler Sakshi Malik arrived here this morning to a grand welcome amid scenes of jubilation and loud cheers from scores of people at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Sakshi was greeted by her parents and relatives at the airport after she touched down in the Capital at the wee hours.
Displaying the bronze medal, she waved to the cheering crowds. �I want to thank each and everyone for such a warm welcome. So happy to see so many people cheering for me. I also want to thank all those who prayed for me, which helped me win the medal for my country,� Sakshi said upon her arrival.
�It was my dream to win an Olympic medal and I worked really hard for that. Now that I have won it, it seems as if I am living my dream,� she added.
The 23-year-old was elated to see her family at the airport after a long time. �As I hugged my father and showed him my medal, tears rolled down his cheeks. My family was very emotional and they were very happy to see me,� she said. �My coaches and my parents really helped me achieve my dream. My seniors, like Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt, also inspired me a lot and I learnt a lot from them.�
Asked if she was finally out of the shadow of more fancied Geeta Phogat, who also fights in the same 58kg category as her, Sakshi said: �When she became the first woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics, I thought I could also do it. In fact, I felt that why just one category, more categories in women could also qualify. So, she has also inspired me and contributed to my success.� � PTI