'I Was Taunted, Humiliated': Sakshi Malik On Her Struggles As Young Wrestler

In India, women in sports are claiming their deserved space in what was considered a 'boys club' and earning laurels for the country. One such trailblazer is wrestler Sakshi Malik, who broke many barriers and stereotypes to become the first Indian female wrestler to bring home an Olympic medal. Her journey was fraught with challenges, from financial struggles to societal hurdles. In a recent episode of The Rulebreaker Show, she recounted some of these challenges and how they shaped her.

Sakshi Malik On The Rulebreaker Show

Sakshi Malik spoke about her early struggles as a wrestler in conversation with Shaili Chopra, host of The Rulebreaker Show and founder of SheThePeople and Gytree. "Initially, there was a lot of struggle. I had got into a sport which is considered only for boys... My parents were very supportive, but other family members tried to pull me down."

"In the early stages, there were a lot of mental, physical, and financial struggles... My relatives used to tell my parents, 'Why have you put her into such a sport? It's a man's game. She won't be able to achieve anything. Her physique will become manly. Who is going to marry her?' All sorts of obnoxious comments... However, my mind was already committed to wrestling and no one was going to hold me back."

Beyond the family's support, Malik also struggled with fitting in as a young wrestler. "In school, the other children used to say, 'She's a wrestler. Stay away from her.' I used to feel insulted when they said that. I also had to carry a bottle of milk to school, which I had to hide from everyone else because I was afraid the other kids would make fun of me."

Malik shared that she was often humiliated and made to feel embarrassed about being a female wrestler. "People used to taunt me. When I would cycle to school, passersby would comment saying, 'Is that a man or a woman?' I felt very hurt by how people from the locality used to tease me... However, my parents always had my side."

For Malik, all these hurdles and sacrifices were a test of her resilience, discipline, and determination. With her parents' unwavering support, she went on to achieve great heights, proving her detractors wrong. "As I started earning medals, people started supporting me. My relatives now support me, waiting to meet me and get a picture with me!"

In 2016, Sakshi Malik won a historic bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, turning a new page for women in the Indian sports landscape. Beyond the mat, she has been a strong advocate of fair treatment and a safer environment for Indian female wrestlers. Through her struggles and triumphs, she continues to be a beacon of hope for sportswomen in India.

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