Olympic bronze medalist Sakshi Malik will now be an officer in Indian Railways; Guess, what's shuttler PV Sindhu's rail connection

INDIAN Railways’ employee Sakshi Malik who finally ended India’s long anxious wait for Olympic medal at Rio Olympics 2016 on Thursday, will now be promoted as a Gazetted officer and will also be posted in the zonal railway of her choice. Sakshi who won the Olympic bronze in 58 kg category of women’s freestyle wrestling and became the first women wrestler from India to bag an Olympic medal, will also receive…

Rs 50 lakh cash award as promised by the Railway earlier.

Sakshi is currently working in the commercial department of the Delhi division of Northern Railway. Indian Railways facilitated her grooming as an ace wrestler by providing all kinds of facilities, environment and incentives, the railway ministry said in a press statement. In fact, wrestling coach of Indian Railways Kuldeep Malik worked hard to prepare the Railway women wrestlers for the Olympics.

Significantly, one third of Indian contingents at Rio comprises of Railway sportspersons, which is by far the highest in any Olympics.

In women wrestling’s 58 kg category, Sakshi clinched the bronze, pulling off a sensational 8-5 victory over Alsuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan in the play-off bout. 

Another Indian Railway employee Vinesh Phogat, who was also a medal hopeful in the 48 kg category, was forced to retire hurt.

Meanwhile, Indian Railways has a connection with the other Indian medal winner — badminton player PV Sindhu who is playing the finals later today. In fact, her father PV Ramanna is a Railways employee who took an 8-month leave for helping his daughter in training. He himself is a former volleyball player. 

During this period of long leave, father Ramanna drove his daughter to coach P Gopichand’s training academy at 4 am every morning. According to reports, he even discussed with his daughter minute details of the shuttler’s game, apart from being a motivator all throughout.