Olympic Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik is hopeful of getting another opportunity to contest for a berth for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“I am hopeful for another round of trials. If I qualify in that I will have two more chances, the Asian World Olympics qualifiers and the World Olympics qualifiers. I want to qualify in the two key tournaments,” Sakshi told WrestlingTV while gearing up for the Asian Wrestling Championship.
Sakshi was defeated by two-time world cadet champion Sonam Malik in 62 kg weight category in the trials for the Asian World Olympics qualifiers in January this year. The veteran wrestler is now working hard for the Asian Wrestling Championships 2020, to be held in New Delhi from February 18 to 23.
“Preparations for the Asian Wrestling Champions have been good. My motto is to give the best, be it any competition, and win medals,” Sakshi said and added that she is working on getting rid of errors she had committed in the recent past. “I am working hard on myself and my techniques. I need to make sure that I don’t repeat the same mistakes that I have made in the previous tournaments,” Sakshi said.
“This time at the Asian Wrestling Championships, I will be wrestling in the 65kg weight category, which is a heavy weight category. Hence, I am watching opponents in the same weight category and trying to improvise with my strategies and techniques,” the wrestler said.
Not giving much heed to her weaknesses, the Olympic bronze medallist emphasized on the fact that the presence of mind at every stage of a bout is very much required. “In wrestling weaknesses are aplenty be it in technique, defence or attack. Most importantly our mind should be working for each and every second in a match,” she said.
“Not being aware for even a second can result in your defence being exposed or you might get attacked in the last few seconds,” Sakshi said in an apparent reference to her Indian women’s trials fight with Sonal Malik.
In the trial match for the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier against Sakshi Malik, Sonam was trailing 4-6 towards the end of the match, but made the score 10-10 with a move that got her four points in the last few seconds and resulted in the seasoned pro’s elimination.
Here are the excerpts of the interview:
InsideSport: How are you training for the Asian Championships in Delhi?
Sakshi: Preparations are going good for the Asian Wrestling Championships. My motto is to give my best and win medals no matter which competition it is.
IS: What are the strategies that you will use?
Sakshi: No particular strategy as such. I am working on the mistakes that were committed in the previous tournaments. They should not be made again. In the Asian Wrestling Championship, I will wrestle in the heavy weight category, so I am watching opponents in the same weight category and working likewise on my strategies and techniques.
IS: What are the drawbacks that you are currently facing and how are you working on them?
Sakshi: What to say, in wrestling there are plenty of weaknesses, be it in defence, technique or attack. But the presence of mind is required during each and every second of a match. We might expose our defence or concede an attack if we lose focus for even on second. I am working on these aspects and will hopefully do well.
IS: In Asian Championships, which players do you think will come across as a strong challenge for you?
Sakshi: I will be wrestling in the heavy weight category (65kg). Hence, it will be a tough competition and I have to take my opponents seriously. I want to give my 100% to each and every match.IS: What is your next move with regards to the Tokyo Olympics?
Sakshi: Well, I want the trials to take place again. If I qualify for that then I will have two more opportunities, the Asian Olympic Qualifiers and the World Olympic Qualifiers. I want to do my best in them, secure a berth in the Olympics and win a medal for my country like I did back in 2016.
