Paris 2024: ‘India will bag three medals in wrestling,’ claims a confident Sakshi Malik

Sakshi Malik, the bronze medalist from the Rio Olympics, has expressed strong confidence in India's performance in the upcoming Paris Olympics, particularly in wrestling. Speaking at a media event in Mumbai organized by JSW Sports, Sakshi predicted a historic medal haul for the Indian contingent.

"India is poised for its best-ever performance at the Paris Olympics. We expect equal participation from both male and female athletes, with women likely to outperform the men," Sakshi stated in response to a question about India's prospects in the competition.

Wrestling has been a consistent medal-winning sport for India since the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with the country earning at least one medal in every subsequent edition. According to the 31-year-old, this trend will continue in Paris.

Sakshi, the first Indian female wrestler to win an Olympic medal, believes that India will secure at least three medals in Paris. "We are sending six wrestlers to the Paris Olympics, and I expect our best-ever medal haul," she stressed.

Having retired from active wrestling, Sakshi noted that the participation of female wrestlers has surged since her Olympic win. "The increase in female wrestlers' participation over the past few years will significantly boost our medal chances. It's fantastic that five female wrestlers will represent India in Paris 2024," she added.

Sakshi has been a prominent figure in the wrestlers' protest, which led to the removal of Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, the former head of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and a former MP from Kaisarganj, Uttar Pradesh. Along with Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, Sakshi protested for nearly a year, calling for reforms in the WFI and accusing Singh of sexual harassment. The matter is currently sub judice.

Regarding the impact of the protest on the preparation of female wrestlers, Sakshi assured that the athletes continued their training safely at home, which is why five female wrestlers have qualified for Paris 2024.

The Indian wrestlers who qualified for the Paris Olympics are:

Women's:
- Antim Panghal - 53 kg
- Vinesh Phogat - 50 kg
- Reetika Hooda - 76 kg
- Nisha Dahiya - 68 kg
- Anshu Malik - 57 kg

Men's:
- Aman Sehrawat - 57 kg