Early life and career
Sakshi Malik was born in Mokhra village in Rohtak district, Haryana. She competed mainly at 58 kg, 60 kg and 62 kg during her career. In 2014 she won gold at the Dave Schultz International Tournament in the 60 kg category.
Awards and honours
She received the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2016, India’s highest sporting honour, and the Padma Shri in 2017. In 2024 she was named to Time’s 100 most influential people list as the first Indian wrestler to be included.
- Became the first female wrestler in Indian history to win an Olympic medal, capturing a historic bronze at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
- Decorated with India's highest sporting honor, the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna, the Padma Shri, and a landmark inclusion in Time's 100 most influential people list in 2024.
- Retired from professional wrestling in December 2023 following high-profile protests against the leadership of the Wrestling Federation of India.
Later career and retirement
Sakshi Malik has been employed by Indian Railways and was promoted to gazetted officer after her Rio result. She also served as wrestling director at Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak. In 2023 she joined protests against the head of the Wrestling Federation of India over harassment allegations made by wrestlers. She announced her retirement from wrestling in December 2023, after a close aide of the federation chief was elected the new WFI head.
She gave birth to a daughter in November 2024.
