Manish Sisodia announces Rs 1 crore for Sakshi Malik

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday announced Rs 1 crore as award to Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik.

Mr Sisodia’s announcement came while he visited the parents of the wrestler in Haryana’s Rohtak. He also announced a promotion for Ms Malik’s father, Sukhbir Malik, a bus conductor with the Delhi Transport Corporation.

In a communication to transport minister Satyendar Jain, Mr Sisodia said, “One of our colleagues (Sakshi’s father Sukhbir Malik), while working as a conductor, created such an atmosphere for her daughter so that she could raise the honour of the nation. I propose that apart from felicitating Sakshi Malik, the government should felicitate her family, especially her father. I recommend the promotion of Sukhbir Malik for his contribution.”

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had also congratulated Ms Malik and hailed her for making the “whole nation proud”.

On Wednesday, the 23-year-old wrestler won a freestyle wrestling bronze medal in the 58 kg category to end the country’s wait for a medal at the Rio Olympic Games.