After her glorious performance at the Rio Olympics where she bagged a bronze medal in the women's freestyle wrestling category, Sakshi Malik came home to a grand welcome amid cheers and beating drums on 24 August.
Malik was received with a lot of pomp at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport. "It as my biggest dream to win a medal for India at the Olympics. I was preparing for this for last 12 years," Sakshi told ANI.
Also Read: Rio 2016: 5 must-know facts about Indian Olympian Sakshi Malik
WATCH: Olympic bronze medalist #SakshiMalik speaks upon her arrival in Delhi from #Riohttps://t.co/CDmaLMvdUS
— ANI (@ANI_news) August 23, 2016
Five Haryana ministers received her at IGI, as fans and well-wishers thronged the premises. Dancers in traditional wear waited to welcome her.
Traditional drummers wait for Malik outside IGI (Photo: ANI)Photo: ANI"I can't believe the grand reception my daughter got at airport, its a proud moment," her father Satbir told ANI.
Also Read: Sakshi Malik: Wrestling the odds since childhood, our Olympian's victory wasn't easy
Proud father Satbir Malik talks to reporters (Photo: ANI)After leaving from the Delhi airport, she headed to West Delhi's Tikri Kalan town, where she was once again showered with adulation, as villagers flocked to felicitate her.
Malik felicitated at West Delhi's Tikri Kalan village (Photo : ANI)Villagers garland Malik at Delhi's Tikri Kalan village (Photo: ANI)At her home state of Haryana, Malik was felicitated at Bahadurgarh in Jhajjar district. School children waved the national flag as they waited outside the reception venue.
School children wait for Malik outside Bahadurgarh function venue (Photo: ANI)School children welcome Sakshi at Bahadurgarh venue (Photo: ANI)She was felicitated at Bahadurgarh by CM Manohar Lal Khattar and other dignitaries. Khattar also handed Malik cheque of Rs 2.5 crore on behalf of the state government.
Malik joins Manohar Lal Khattar and other dignitaries on the podium (Photo: ANI)Sakshi Malik addresses the crowd (Photo: ANI)Khattar hands over a cheque of Rs 2.5 crore to Malik (Photo: ANI)Also Read: Honoured to be considered for Khel Ratna award: Sakshi Malik
Also Read:Forget Bollywood. Make Sakshi, Sindhu, Dipa the faces of Beti Bachao