Journeying from Rohtak to Rio, Sakshi Malik made the country proud by becoming the first Indian female to bag an Olympic medal in wrestling. Shraddha Jahagirdar-Saxena spends some time with the gritty athlete right after she has emerged from a gruelling training session in the capital.
Neither to glamour nor to the lens born, Sakshi Malik poses for the camera with growing confidence, warming up with each subsequent change in the cool confines of the studio. The young sports star had earlier scrutinised the selection of designer wear laid out in the changing room, before proclaiming herself more than satisfied with the offerings. And although a tad uncomfortable in the stilettos that she steps into for a few shots, she displays a fascination for her final look as seen on the laptop, often taking snapshots on her own phone.
Stepping beyond the world of akharas and wrestling, the Olympic bronze medallist is enjoying her time in the sun — taking her pick of offers that are coming her way, be they shoots, appearances at events and television shows, promotional activities and more. She seems to be untouched yet by the new experiences filling her horizon, for Malik’s innocence, raw energy and curiosity come through in the few hours that we spend with her — as does her eagerness to return to the akhara, her hallowed space, once the business of the morning is dispensed with.
Having just completed an intensive training session in the capital the previous day, Malik, who has created sporting history by becoming the first Indian female wrestler to bag a medal at the Olympics, has requested a slightly delayed start than is normal for her. So, there we are, all prepped up for the 24-year-old who is scheduled to arrive at 7 a.m.
She walks in quietly behind the girl who is her companion for the day for the interaction with Verve. The wrestler’s trademark curls fall a little bit below her shoulders and she is dressed simply in a T-shirt and jeans. Though she may come across as abrupt to some, more so when dealing with people she has just met, the down-to-earth Malik is a refreshing change from the diva brigade with its huge retinue and routine of endless demands.
Denne historien er fra December 2016-utgaven av Verve.
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Denne historien er fra December 2016-utgaven av Verve.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Making Amends
This generation’s penchant for thoughtless consumption gets Madhu Jain roiled up, and she wonders if nature is getting its own back for our missteps…
Diamonds With Provenance
In keeping with the company’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility, Anisa Kamadoli Costa, chief sustainability officer at Tiffany & Co. and chairman and president at The Tiffany & Co. Foundation, enlightens Shirin Mehta on the efforts that make the jewellery giant an industry leader in transparency
SARTORIAL ECONOMICS
Sisters Tashi and Tara Mitra demonstrate to Akanksha Pandey how deviating from the mainstream can bend the way we think, live and dress
NOTES TO SELF
An anthropomorphized tiger’s perspective, a viscerally worded futuristic interpretation of loss, a critique of performative activism, a meta reflection on the earth’s crises. Told through different lenses, Janaki Lenin, Indrapramit Das, Keshava Guha and Roshan Ali’s stories — written exclusively for Verve — attempt to make sense of the fraught reality that we exist in today
The Eternal Optimist
As Generation X and xennials grapple with fully transitioning to conscious living, young millennials and Generation Z are leading the charge to reverse human-caused environmental damage. Sahar Mansoor, founder and CEO of the Bengaluru-based zero-waste social enterprise Bare Necessities, has a simple overarching philosophy: consume less and stay positive. Verve gets deeper into the mindset of the action-oriented earth advocate
Redemption SONGS
Indian music festivals have been demonstrating a refreshing sense of responsibility in terms of their ecological impact. Interacting with stakeholders who strive to make these large-scale events greener, Akhil Sood investigates the reasons behind the improved attitudes of audiences and the increase in corporate support.
earth hour
Crafted using nature’s elements, these dials draw inspiration from the many heterogeneous materials and hues around us.Verve turns its lens onto a mesmerising few
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
Children are holding adults accountable for both the grim future they are facing and the toll this is taking on their mental health. Madhumita Bhattacharyya initiates conversations with families of young climate activists and observes the extent to which parenting has changed in the face of catastrophe
NATURAL JUSTICE
Most of us are only just waking up to the urgency of climatic action. When the stakes are so high, what can individual action solve? Mridula Mary Paul, an environmental policy expert, is proof of the tenacity needed to effect systemic change. It’s not glamorous, and the rewards are few and far between, but that doesn’t stop her from aiming big, finds Anandita Bhalerao
Along For The Ride
Navigating Indian streets as a woman is hard enough. But what is it like while riding a bicycle? Bengaluru-based Shreya Dasgupta, a regular cyclist, speaks to five urban women about the pros and cons of this increasingly popular means of transport.
