Sakshi Malik, the Indian wrestler, won a million hearts on Thursday when she won the Bronze medal for India. This was the first medal for India in this Olympics.
In an interview, she had mentioned that she chose sports as a profession so that she could fly in an aeroplane.
This remark by Sakshi “touched” the hearts of people at the Air India and its chief Ashwani Lohani. They have offered her a business class ticket for her return journey. It will allow her and a companion to fly to any two destinations in the entire Air India network; the ticket will be valid for a year.
![Air India has offered her a return journey business class ticket for her and her companion to any two destinations.](https://images.thequint.com/thequint%2F2016-08%2Fe1433d50-beda-4e75-9235-8e9336318239%2FScreen%20Shot%202016-08-19%20at%206.30.58%20pm.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&fmt=webp&width=720)
Air India is indeed proud to offer you two (for you and your companion) return business class tickets between any two destinations of the entire Air India network valid for a period of one year.Ashwani Lohani, Air India Chairman and Managing Director
Meanwhile, film stars, cricketers and politicians have been lauding Sakshi with compliments on social media.
The Haryana government announced a reward of Rs. 2.50 crore and a job to the wrestler. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also announced a Rs 25 lakh reward for her. The Uttar Pradesh government will honour her with the coveted Rani Laxmi Bai award.
In what seems like a reassuring start, the Indian government is perhaps making an attempt to boost the spirit of Indian athletes.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)