Sakshi Malik won her first gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She won a silver in the 58kg category in 2014 and a bronze in the 62kg category in 2018. But finally bagged the elusive gold as she defeated Ana Gonzalez of Canada.
Sakshi pulled off an incredible comeback to register the win through a pinfall. Malik was down 2-3 at the end of the first round and was set to win a silver. Gonzalez led the leg attack which her Indian opponent could not defend, twice. The Canadian star registered four points, but in a remarkable comeback, Malik was quick to make a takedown and then pulled off a pinfall for the win. As it was her maiden gold in the Commonwealth Games, Malik was extremely emotional as the Indian national anthem roared in Birmingham.
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Sakshi Malik's first success as a professional wrestler came in 2010 at the Junior World Championships where she took home the bronze medal in the 58 kg freestyle event. Before the CWG 22, Malik ended her five-year drought of not winning an international gold at the Ranking Series in Almaty this June. Last month, Sakshi won bronze at the Tunis Ranking Series and looked in great shape for the CWG 22.
Along with Malik, Indian wrestlers bagged six medals, including three gold on Friday. Bajrang Punia defended his title while Deepak Punia (86kg) also added to India's medal tally by winning the men's freestyle gold. Birthday girl Anshu Malik (57kg) had a disappointing result as he won a silver medal in her maiden CWG appearance.
