Both Sakshi Malik and Mary kom have won Olympic medal for India.
It was a rather special conversation – between two Olympians. Mary Kom and Sakshi Malik, who got talking about change through sport, but not without their humour and punches that united their geographical diversity.
Malik's raw learning curve in Haryana's makeshift wrestling facilities and Kom's fight against poor infrastructure got the power women talking on a range of issues from the growth of sports in India to shattering gender glass ceiling.
Few can forget that Kom is a five-time World Amateur Boxing champion, and the only woman boxer to have won a medal in each one of the six world championships. And she returned quickly to more medals in the Asian Games very shortly after her twins were born. Women have done India proud in sports and that's just the beginning," said Kom, who is the only Indian woman boxer to have qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics, competing in the flyweight (51 kg) category and winning the bronze medal.
Malik's recent win at the Rio Olympics, they both admitted, is just the start of a revolution. "Mujhe sabse kaafi pyaar mil raha hai. Sab mujhe jaante hain." (I am getting a lot of love from everyone and people know me all over the country). Malik hails from Haryana, a state infamous for a lopsided sex ratio. Little wonder she has since become the mascot of the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign (Save the girl child, educate the girl child).
When asked if Malik goes back to watch her winning moment, she said, "I keep watching my winning bout again and again. Not satisfied yet. People love me wherever I go now, life has changed." An elated Sakshi said the first desire after winning was to run home and eat aloo paranthas.
Mary Kom and Sakshi Malik had a special moment when Kom told Sakshi, "Maybe your life has changed but don't let those moments change what you are truly." Some amazing reflections of grace, stature. Kom celebrated the fact that women had brought pride to the nation at Rio. She said there was a need for all sportspersons to invest time and energy in training new crop and talent. Kom didn't mince words on sporting infrastructure which was a big issue. Kom said her own academy in Manipur was set up before Kom was made a Rajya Sabha MP. However, she felt facilities needed to improve a lot and access to quality sporting facilities were entirely missing from India.
"I request the government to provide good infrastructure to the women in rural areas who aspire to be in sports," said Sakshi Malik. While Mary Kom added, "I will appeal to our government to provide us with good coaches besides having made quality infrastructure." My personal takeaway from their heartwarming and meaningful conversation was how when women are empowered, they win.
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 "Sakshi Malik- MC Mary Kom")
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