Haryana's Rohtak town celebrated its hero, Sakshi Malik, after she brought India its first medal - a bronze - in the Rio Olympics, beating Kyrgyzstan's Aisuluu Tynybekova in women's freestyle 58kg category wrestling.
Hailing from a state that has the country's worst sex ratio and rampant female foeticide, Sakshi became the first woman wrestler from India to win an Olympic medal.
Neighbours, relatives, friends, fellow-wrestlers, coaches and political leaders visited Sakshi's home here after she clinched the medal in Rio.
"We are elated at her feat. She had promised me that she would get a medal for the country. She has done the country and us proud," said Sakshi's mother Sudesh Malik.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar congratulated Sakshi's parents - Sukhbir and Sudesh - over the phone. The Haryana government will reward the wrestler Rs. 3 crore. Sakshi was among the 21 athletes from the state to represent India in Rio.
"I have stood up to the hopes of the country for the first medal. I was confident that I can win in the end even being down. The last two hours were the most difficult for me thinking whether the medal will come or not," she said in her initial comments soon after winning.
"This is the first time that a medal has come for women. It's a success of my 12 years of dedication. My hard work has succeeded," Sakshi said.
PTI adds:
INDIAN RAILWAYS AWARDS RS 60 LAKH
Sakshi will be rewarded with a cash award of Rs 60 lakh by her employers, the Indian Railways.
The railway ministry had announced before the start of the Games that cash awards of Rs. 1 crore, Rs. 75 lakh and Rs. 50 lakh would be given to medal winners apart from the Rs. 10 lakh prize for qualifying.
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