Sakshi wins first medal for India

TT, Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 17: Woman wrestler Sakshi Malik has ensured a bronze, bagging India's first medal in the Rio Olympics.

Sakshi defeated Aisuluu Tynybekova of Kyrgyzstan in the bronze medal play-off with seconds remaining for the bell.

Sakshi is only the fourth Indian woman athlete to win an Olympic medal after Karnam Malleshwari, Mary Kom and Saina Nehwal, reports PTI.

Earlier, Sakshi had stormed into the bronze medal play-off with a dominating 12-3 victory in her 58kg repechage bout.

Sakshi gave no chance to Purevdorjiin Orkhon of Mongolia as she bagged as many as 10 points in the second period after the scores were tied 2-2 at the break.

Sakshi put up a dominating performance, pinning down her opponent from time to time, besides flipping her over to gain valuable points.

The Mongolian girl, in contrast, could earn just one point in the second period to go down tamely in the end.

There are two bronze medals on offer in the wrestling event. The 23-year-old got a shot to fight for the bronze medal despite losing in the quarterfinals as the girl who had beaten her in the last eight round - Valeriia Koblova - reached the final of 58kg.

As Sakshi had reached the quarterfinals in this category, she had to fight only one repechage round as compared to two opponents for the other Russian girl, whom she had beaten in the earlier two rounds - pre-quarters and qualification.