Those Last 10 Seconds Of Sakshi Malik Bout Gave India Its First Rio Medal
Sakshi Malik won the bronze, India's first medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, by defeating Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan in the women's 58kg freestyle bout
Highlights
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Sakshi Malik won the bronze medal in women's 58kg freestyle wrestling
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This is India's first medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics
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Sakshi was trailing 0-5 in 1st period but made a stunning comeback
Not only did Sakshi Malik give India their first medal of the 2016 Rio Games, but also became the first Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal. However, the bronze medal looked out of her grasp till the dying moments of the 58kg freestyle bronze medal bout.
Sakshi Malik was trailing 0-5 till the end of the first period and it seemed again that an Indian would fall just short of getting the elusive medal in Rio that the country so badly craved.
Her opponent -- Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan -- looked in complete control for much of the bout but the Indian wrestler didn't give up.
"I have seen the game changing in last two seconds, so I thought to myself why not in 10 seconds. Tried my best and did it," said Sakshi Malik.
With the first minute of the second period going scoreless, Sakshi Malik had just under two minutes to turnaround things and she did just that.
She threw her opponent on to the mat to get on the scoreboard and another similar move just seconds later saw her trail just by a point.
Aisuluu looked rattled and got on to the defensive to protect her lead. Sakshi Malik smelled blood and went for the kill with just seconds left.
Sakshi's never-die attitude finally paid off as scored another point by pinning her opponent down.
With just couple of seconds to the buzzer, Sakshi Malik grabbed the leg of the Krygyzstani wrestler and pinned her again, gaining two more crucial points, thus putting the result beyond any doubt.
She jumped in the air, clinching her fists, probably realising the astonishing feat she had just achieved but it wasn't over just yet.
The coaching staff of Aisuluu called for an official review, citing their wrestler had rolled Sakshi Malik over as well. The Indian had to wait another few agonising seconds.
The judges upon seeing the replay made a decision in favour of the Indian and thanks to the failed review, Sakshi Malik got another additional point, making the final score 8-5.
Sakshi Malik jumped in the air in joy and was immediately hugged by her two coaches. And that was it!
India had their first medal of the 2016 Rio Olympics - a wait of 11 days was finally over and it was this pocket dynamite, hailing from Rohtak that had made it possible.