By Vivek Prabhakar Singh Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Aug 18 : While expressing delight and exuberance over Sakshi Malik's bronze medal victory at the Rio Olympics, coach Kuldeep Singh admitted that there was "double pressure" on the Indian wrestling contingent to end the country's agonising wait for a medal in the prestigious quadrennial event here.
The 23-year-old from Haryana produced a sensational comeback to overturn a 5-0 deficit against reigning Asian champion Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan, registering eight points in the second period of play to win the bronze medal match in the women's freestyle 58 kg category in Rio on Wednesday.
"I am overwhelmed for what she has done. I'll remain indebted to her all my life. There was double pressure on us to perform as India hadn't opened its account on the medal tally till then," a visibly ecstatic Kuldeep told ANI here.
"But I had faith on Sakshi that she will make it. I would like to request all the Indians to give their well wishes to other players as well, as they did in case of Sakshi," the coach added.
With the win, Sakshi became the fourth Indian woman athlete to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleshwari, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal.
After going down 2-9 against Russia's Valeriia Koblova in the quarter-finals, Sakshi received another chance at a medal via repechage and made full use of the second life by outplaying Mongolian wrestler Orkhon Purevdorj 12-3 to advance to the bronze-medal match.
She also became the fourth Indian wrestler to win a medal in Olympics after Khashaba Dadasaheb Jadhav, two-time Olympic medallist Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar Dutt.
Source: ANI
