‘That is not the problem – we are’: Sakshi Malik opens in the first episode of ‘Game on’ podcast on motherhood, marriage and her Olympic trips. More sports news

New Delhi: India’s first and only female Olympic medalist in wrestling, Sakshi Malik has shut down the first episode of the game – a podcast series spotlight India’s unhappy sports heroes – an athlete, mother and wife with emotionally rich and unfiltated interactions about their journey. In a Cricket-Cricket-Aunty Nation, the game on, hosted by Preeti Dhai, focusing on women and young athletes of India and paying attention to their extraordinary life beyond mat, ring or court.Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!In a clear conversation, Sakshi talked about how life changed after the birth of her daughter Yoshida – named after the legendary Japanese wrestler sorry Yoshida – and how motherhood brought both unexpected struggle and joy.“I trained a day before my daughter’s birth. I felt that I would not face postpartum depression because I am an athlete. But once I came home, I could not stop crying for 10-15 days. I couldn’t want the child around. I didn’t understand what was happening,” Sakshi shared. “Now she is seven months old and I think she is the strongest among us. She is beautiful, and although it was difficult, it is still equally beautiful.”

His reflections highlight how the elite athlete is not immune for the emotional turmoil of paternity. She credits her husband, fellow wrestler Satyavart Kadian for her anchor during this infection.“My husband reminds me that our daughter is not creating a problem – we are. We live such a resignant life – train, food, sleep, repeat – that this chaotic bliss seems to be foreigner. But she is just a child. We are adjusting this, not him, not him,” the witness accepted.Podcast describes how Sakshi’s relationship with Satyavart blooms with Sakshi – a Facebook friend request to wrestling together in global stages and eventually building a life side. He reminded of his parallel journey in sports and love, both won medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and soon after Satyavart’s romantic offer.“We were the same school, in the same city, and did not even know. He proposed that we both of us after winning silver in Glasgow. I told him – I was not a boyfriend until I win the Olympics! I was wrestling. But he stayed.

In a particularly stirring revelation, Sakshi shared how Satyavart, inspired by a self-help book while imagining her Olympic dream, gave him a turn in his journey of 2016.“She gave me the secret in 2011. I wrote my dreams and even sketched myself on the podium. Every night I used to see myself holding the tricolor. It all happened as I had imagined,” she said, she shone.However, Satyavart’s support is beyond wrestling. From sharing domestic duties to schedule of baby care duties carefully, he has been a father on one hand.“He feeds her, heats milk at the right temperature, and even takes on baby duty from 11 am to 3 pm, so I can relax. Then I take from 3 to 8. We have also made a timetable!” That laugh.Sakshi also opened about the inspiration behind her daughter Yosida’s naming – after sorry Yoshida, her wrestling statue.“There was no wrestler in my family. One day I started wrestling to travel abroad by sitting in an aircraft. Later, I came to know about the Olympic champion of Yoshida-three times. I met him at the World Championship in Canada and decided, if I ever have a daughter, I will give her the name of Yoshida. It also means ‘fragrance’ in Japanese. An ideal name for a fighter and a blessing, “he said.Supported by the Times of India and supported on YouTube and digital platforms, the game on is not only a podcast, but a movement – sports grit, emotional journey and festive of India’s future champion. Other inspirational athletes in season 1 are like Manika Batra, Mirabai Chanu and Lovalina Borghehen. With the establishment of tone with a weak and powerful story of Sakshi Malik, the game on message makes loudly and clear: a deep story is worth telling behind every medal.Catch the latest episode on toi platforms and YouTube.