Sakshi Malik: 'Athletes have right to play anywhere'

Sakshi Malik was reacting to a query on Pakistani players being barred from participating in any kind of event in India in the aftermath of Uri attacks and surgical strikes carried out by the Indian government.

Sakshi Malik said money and winning a medal does not make a success story of an individual, but doing good things for the country does.

Seeking to steer clear of the raging debate over allowing Pakistani players in India amid hightened diplomatic tensions, Olympic bronze-medallist Sakshi Malik today said athletes have the right to compete against fellow rivals anywhere in the world.

“The media has been, since this morning, wrongly highlighting that I want Pakistani players to be invited to participate in various international sports events. I haven’t said anything like that,” Sakshi told reporters.

Sakshi was reacting to a query on Pakistani players being barred from participating in any kind of event in India in the aftermath of Uri attacks and surgical strikes carried out by the Indian government. Sakshi clarified that she had only said that the players have the rights to play against any other player in the world, and not more than that.

“What I said was - players have all the rights - like we participate in the Games (Olympics) and we happen to play against other players, belonging to different countries ... I haven’t advocated Pakistani players should be allowed to play in India,” she said.

Asked if she would toe the line of Yuvraj Singh and Saina Nehwal to invest money in startups or any business, Sakshi said she loves wrestling and would like to help kids who do not have the wherewithal to extend their careers.

“I love wrestling, and I would love to spend my money for helping kids who are in need of money to take up the sport or sustain their careers,” she said.

Sakshi further said money and winning a medal does not make a success story of an individual, but doing good things for the country does.

“If I do something good for the country - that is success for me, not getting money and winning medals - that is not success to me, at all,” Sakshi said.

Sakshi has been flooded with a lot of rewards, which include Rs 2.5 crore awarded to her by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. She said her life has changed a lot after winning bronze medal in Rio.

“My life has changed a lot. The whole country is beginning to know me, but with this my responsibilities have only increased,” she said.