Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik arrived in Delhi early Wednesday morning to a grand welcome.
Her flight touched down at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at around 4 a.m. Upon her arrival at the airport, she told reporters, “It’s a great feeling and a proud moment. The reception I got was amazing. The whole of India supported me and I want to thank them for it.”
Watch the video of Sakshi speaking to the media after her arrival at the IGI airport from Rio:
Haryana’s Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Vij, who was present in Rio as head of state delegation, accompanied Sakshi on the return flight.
Five ministers of the BJP Government in Haryana including Kavita Jain, Rao Narbir Singh, Manish Grover and Vipul Goel received her at the airport.
Sakshi’s father Satbir Malik was overwhelmed with the grand scale of the reception his daughter got.
A rousing reception is planned at Bahadurgarh and at her village Mokhra Khas in Rohtak district. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was earlier scheduled to honour her at her village, will felicitate her at Bahadurgarh at Jhajjar district.
A cash award of Rs 2.5 crore for her bronze medal effort is also likely to be given to her at Bahadurgarh itself.
She also posted pictures of the sumptuous breakfast which she had in Rio, on Twitter. “A proper breakfast! How I have missed you!,” she tweeted.
A felicitation function for Sakshi has been kept for Wednesday evening at her village in Rohtak.
Before she heads to Rohtak, Sakshi will be welcomed near the Delhi-Haryana border at Bahadurgarh where apart from the Chief Minister, prominent sportspersons, senior officials of the state government, will receive her.
Along the way, Sakshi will make brief stopovers at a couple of villages in Rohtak district including Ismaila village where she will meet her maternal uncle.
With requests from several village sarpanches along the way requesting that Sakshi make a brief stopover, the wrestler may take hours before she manages to reach Rohtak. She will travel in a bedecked vehicle.
(With inputs from PTI)
(Feature image source: Twitter | @ANI_news)