NEW DELHI: India’s first and only female Olympic medallist in wrestling, Sakshi Malik, has kicked off the first episode of Game On — a podcast series spotlighting India’s unsung sporting heroes — with an emotionally rich and unfiltered conversation about her journey as an athlete, mother and wife. In a cricket-obsessed nation, Game On, hosted by Preeti Dhaiya, aims to refocus attention on India’s women and youth athletes and their extraordinary lives beyond the mat, the ring or the court.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!In a candid conversation, Sakshi talks about how life changed after the birth of her daughter Yoshiidaa — named after legendary Japanese wrestler Saori Yoshida — and how motherhood brought both unexpected struggles and joy.“I trained a day before my daughter was born. I thought I wouldn’t face postpartum depression because I’m an athlete. But once I came home, I couldn’t stop crying for 10–15 days. I didn’t want the baby around. I didn’t even understand what was happening,” Sakshi shared. “Now she’s seven months old and I feel like she’s the strongest among us. She’s beautiful, and though it was tough, it’s equally beautiful now.”
Her reflections highlight how elite athletes are not immune to the emotional upheavals of parenthood. She credits her husband, fellow wrestler Satyawart Kadian, for being her anchor during this transition.“My husband reminds me that our daughter isn’t creating problems — we are. We lived such regimented lives — train, eat, sleep, repeat — that this chaotic joy feels alien. But she’s just being a child. It’s us adjusting, not her,” Sakshi admitted.The podcast explores how Sakshi’s relationship with Satyawart blossomed — from a Facebook friend request to wrestling together on global stages and ultimately building a life side by side. She reminisced about their parallel journeys in sport and love, both winning medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and Satyawart’s romantic proposal soon after.“We were in the same school, same city, and didn’t even know it. He proposed after we both won silver in Glasgow. I told him — no boyfriends till I win the Olympics! My focus was wrestling. But he stayed. And supported me when no one else expected me to win,” she recalled fondly.
In a particularly stirring revelation, Sakshi shared how visualising her Olympic dream — inspired by a self-help book Satyawart gave her — became the turning point in her journey to Rio 2016.“He gave me The Secret in 2011. I wrote down my dreams and even sketched myself on the podium. Every night I’d see myself holding the tricolour. It all happened exactly as I had visualised,” she said, eyes glistening.Satyawart’s support, however, extends beyond wrestling. From sharing household duties to meticulously scheduling baby care duties, he’s been a hands-on father.“He feeds her, warms the milk to the right temperature, and even takes over baby duty from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. so I can rest. Then I take over from 3 to 8. We even made a timetable!” she laughed.Sakshi also opened up about the inspiration behind naming her daughter Yoshiidaa — after Saori Yoshida, her wrestling idol.“There was no wrestler in my family. I started wrestling to one day sit in a plane and travel abroad. Later, I found out about Yoshida — three-time Olympic champion. I met her at the World Championship in Canada and decided, if I ever have a daughter, I’ll name her Yoshida. It also means ‘fragrance’ in Japanese. A perfect name for a fighter and a blessing,” she said.Backed by The Times of India and supported across YouTube and digital platforms, Game On is not just a podcast but a movement — a celebration of sporting grit, emotional journeys, and India’s future champions. Season 1 features other inspiring athletes like Manika Batra, Mirabai Chanu, and Lovlina Borgohain. With Sakshi Malik’s vulnerable and empowering story setting the tone, Game On delivers the message loud and clear: behind every medal lies a deeper story worth telling.Catch the latest episodes on TOI platforms and YouTube.
