Sportskeeda's Indian Sportsperson of the Year 2016 - No. 5 to No. 1

#4 Sakshi Malik

Sakshi Malik became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal

If anything, 2016 was the year of the underdog. And one of them was Sakshi Malik. The 24-year-old wrestler had always lived in the shadow of the Phogat sisters, but all that changed in the Rio Olympics.

First, she defeated Geeta Phogat at the Olympic trials and secured her berth in Rio. And then, at Rio she became the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal when she clinched the bronze.

Much was expected from the wrestling contingent, but the performances were dismal. Sakshi single-handedly saved India’s blushes in the sport with her achievement and took some of the attention away from the rest of the controversy.

Her never-say-die attitude endeared her to the millions of Indian fans, and Sakshi’s incredible achievement sees her at 4^th on our list.