Sonam Malik (born 15 April 2002) is an Indian woman wrestler from Sonipat, Haryana. She won a gold medal at the National Games, and two gold medals at the World Cadet Wrestling Championship. She won a bronze in 62 kg in the 2022 Asian Games.[1][2]

Sonam Malik
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born (2002-04-15) 15 April 2002 (age 22)
Sonipat, Haryana, India
Sport
SportFreestyle Wrestling
Event62 kg
Medal record
Women's freestyle wrestling
Representing  India
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Hangzhou 62 kg
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Astana 62 kg
World Junior Championships
Silver medal – second place 2022 Sofia 62 kg
World Cadet Championships
Gold medal – first place 2017 Athens 62 kg
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Zagreb 62 kg
Gold medal – first place 2019 Sofia 62 kg

Personal life and background

edit

Malik was born on 15 April 2002 in Madina village of Sonipat, Haryana. Her father and a cousin are wrestlers, who had influence in Malik's decision to pursue the sport. She joined for coaching under coach Ajmer Malik at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Sports Complex in her village. Facilities were inadequate to start with and the coaching academy did not have mats to practice on. The players had to train on the ground, but the ground would turn muddy in rainy days, forcing the players to practice on roads.[3]

In 2017, the wrestler's shoulder was injured in a tournament. The treatment continued for about one-and-half years. In addition to her sports career, Malik is currently pursuing her bachelor of arts degree.[4]

Professional career

edit

Malik won a gold medal at the National School Games in 2016. In 2017, she won a silver in the Cadet National Championship, a gold in the World School Games, a bronze medal in the Cadet Asian Wrestling Championship and finished with a gold in the Cadet World Wrestling Championship. In 2018, she won bronze medals at the Cadet Asian Wrestling Championship and the Cadet World Wrestling Championship. In 2019, Malik again won the gold medal at the Cadet World Wrestling Championship.[4]

In 2020, she defeated 2016 Rio Olympics bronze medallist Sakshi Malik twice. The first of these came in January in trials for the Asian Championship and later for selection to the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in February.[5][6]

Malik won the silver medal in her event at the 2022 World Junior Wrestling Championships held in Sofia, Bulgaria.[7] She competed in the 62 kg event at the 2022 World Wrestling Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia.[8]

Malik won one of the bronze medals in the women's 62 kg event at the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.[2] She defeated Long Jia of China in her bronze medal match.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ Desk, TOI Sports (6 October 2023). "Asian Games: Sonam Malik wins bronze in women's 62kg wrestling". The Times of India. Retrieved 6 October 2023. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ a b c "2022 Asian Games Wrestling Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  3. ^ "सोनम मलिक: ओलंपिक मेडल जीतने का सपना देखने वाली पहलवान". BBC News हिंदी (in Hindi). Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Sonam Malik". WrestlingTV. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Sonam Malik stuns Sakshi Maliik in trials". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Wrestlers Anshu Malik, Sonam Malik qualify for Tokyo Olympics; door shut on Sakshi Malik". The Times of India. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  7. ^ "2022 World Junior Wrestling Championships Results Book" (PDF). United World Wrestling. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Sonam Malik profile page". uww.org. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
edit