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Witness
In December 2023, Sakshi Malik quit professional wrestling. She was India’s best-known female wrestler – the first and only female wrestler to win a medal at the Olympics – with fights both ongoing and ahead of her. It was an extraordinary gesture, a culmination of her and many other Indian wrestlers’ fight against the former President of the Wrestling Foundation of India (WFI), Brij Bhushan Singh. It is a fight that had seen her willing to risk all she had achieved, including the Olympic medal itself.
No athlete ends their career when they could still be in the game. But Sakshi has always gone against the grain. In this fiery memoir, she tells her story from her childhood, her introduction to wrestling in Rohtak, her win at the Rio Olympics and her post-Olympics journey, her struggles and triumphs over injury and self-doubt and, finally, her most recent public battle with the administration of the WFI that has played out on the streets of New Delhi. Interspersed through her story are fascinating insights into the world of women’s wrestling in India – training, camp life, body image issues, dating, finances and what it takes to be an elite international wrestler.
Gripping, moving and insightful, this is a book of rare candour and courage – one which will be seen as a sporting classic.
No athlete ends their career when they could still be in the game. But Sakshi has always gone against the grain. In this fiery memoir, she tells her story from her childhood, her introduction to wrestling in Rohtak, her win at the Rio Olympics and her post-Olympics journey, her struggles and triumphs over injury and self-doubt and, finally, her most recent public battle with the administration of the WFI that has played out on the streets of New Delhi. Interspersed through her story are fascinating insights into the world of women’s wrestling in India – training, camp life, body image issues, dating, finances and what it takes to be an elite international wrestler.
Gripping, moving and insightful, this is a book of rare candour and courage – one which will be seen as a sporting classic.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 9, 2024
There are two sets of memories most of us have when it comes to Sakshi Mallik- the young wrestler who won the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics becoming the first (as so far only) female wrester to win an Olympic medal and the woman who protested against systemic sexual harassment by the WFI Chief. While both are described in great detail in her memoir, Witness, but there is so much more to her story than just these moments, and the book gives equal importance to all that happened before she achieved the fame that she did.
Her story is the story of a young woman who started wrestling a little later than others, but who was so disciplined that she ended up much stronger than almost all her opponents. What emerges from the memoir is the portrait of an extremely brave and principled woman. A woman who is reticent by nature and doesn’t actively seek the limelight. A woman who does her best to avoid confrontations whether it be with her family or with the Wrestling Federation, but one who took a principled stand when she had to.
In the book, she speaks with utter candor about her personal relationships, and with her participation in the protests which resulted in the end of her career as a wrestler. She doesn't attempt to make herself the hero of the story, though she certainly is one.
The book is ghostwritten by Jonathan Selvraj, arguably one of the finest sports writers in the country today, and people who want to learn more about wrestling at the international level will find it utterly captivating.
This is a book I would recommend without hesitation.
Detailed review here: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2024/11/...
Her story is the story of a young woman who started wrestling a little later than others, but who was so disciplined that she ended up much stronger than almost all her opponents. What emerges from the memoir is the portrait of an extremely brave and principled woman. A woman who is reticent by nature and doesn’t actively seek the limelight. A woman who does her best to avoid confrontations whether it be with her family or with the Wrestling Federation, but one who took a principled stand when she had to.
In the book, she speaks with utter candor about her personal relationships, and with her participation in the protests which resulted in the end of her career as a wrestler. She doesn't attempt to make herself the hero of the story, though she certainly is one.
The book is ghostwritten by Jonathan Selvraj, arguably one of the finest sports writers in the country today, and people who want to learn more about wrestling at the international level will find it utterly captivating.
This is a book I would recommend without hesitation.
Detailed review here: https://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2024/11/...
March 11, 2026
Witness is many things at once, yet it consciously steers clear of sensationalism. It’s the story of an ordinary person who respects and accepts human nature in all its complexity.
The book is introspective, self-critical, and occasionally borders on overthinking — but that’s where its strength lies. You can sense Sakshi Malik’s growth and maturity throughout as she starts from a young girl living with her grandparents to her love for wrestling and the strength and maturity she shows during the protests.
The narration of her matches is so vivid that you can almost see every hold and movement unfold before your eyes. I even found myself going back to rewatch her international bouts and enjoyed them all the more. Even after winning an Olympic medal, Sakshi remains grounded. But things truly come undone during the protests against Brij Bhushan, when she must confront her idols, only to find they don’t quite live up to her ideals. Looking back, she realises that an Olympic medal doesn’t make one special; it’s merely metal unless it’s backed by integrity.
“So many of my idols turned out to be only too human. They were as selfish as anyone. I admired two of them for their Olympic medals — but what good were they? I used to think I was special for having one myself. But I know now, that medal isn’t anything special…”
At one point, she reflects that while discipline and fairness govern the wrestling mat, the world outside is often ruled by chaos.
“People sometimes ask how wrestlers can bear so much pain and show such bravery on the mat, yet not in real life. But that’s because of how our society works. On the mat, there are rules. Where are they in society? Where do you find justice so easily?”
Witness is a raw, honest, and brave account, the mark of a truly responsible influencer and athlete who dares to go above and beyond to be a better human being.
The book is introspective, self-critical, and occasionally borders on overthinking — but that’s where its strength lies. You can sense Sakshi Malik’s growth and maturity throughout as she starts from a young girl living with her grandparents to her love for wrestling and the strength and maturity she shows during the protests.
The narration of her matches is so vivid that you can almost see every hold and movement unfold before your eyes. I even found myself going back to rewatch her international bouts and enjoyed them all the more. Even after winning an Olympic medal, Sakshi remains grounded. But things truly come undone during the protests against Brij Bhushan, when she must confront her idols, only to find they don’t quite live up to her ideals. Looking back, she realises that an Olympic medal doesn’t make one special; it’s merely metal unless it’s backed by integrity.
“So many of my idols turned out to be only too human. They were as selfish as anyone. I admired two of them for their Olympic medals — but what good were they? I used to think I was special for having one myself. But I know now, that medal isn’t anything special…”
At one point, she reflects that while discipline and fairness govern the wrestling mat, the world outside is often ruled by chaos.
“People sometimes ask how wrestlers can bear so much pain and show such bravery on the mat, yet not in real life. But that’s because of how our society works. On the mat, there are rules. Where are they in society? Where do you find justice so easily?”
Witness is a raw, honest, and brave account, the mark of a truly responsible influencer and athlete who dares to go above and beyond to be a better human being.
November 10, 2024
An excellent book, a must-read for sports fans and esp, wrestling fans. Exceptionally honest, it gives wonderful insight into the mind of a top-rung wrestler even as a bout is on! Descriptions of some of her important medal bouts (winning AND losing) are outstanding in their honesty, insight and thought process.
Equally importantly, it tells the tale of how those we placed in positions of authority failed to discharge their responsibility and failed to show honest leadership. Leaves the reader soul-searching whether he or she would have stepped up in a similar situation. To quote an example from US politics, would one have had the courage to be the Raffensperger responding to Trump's call in 2020 asking for more votes? Would one have stood by the wrestlers in their fight against the Federation head?
Equally importantly, it tells the tale of how those we placed in positions of authority failed to discharge their responsibility and failed to show honest leadership. Leaves the reader soul-searching whether he or she would have stepped up in a similar situation. To quote an example from US politics, would one have had the courage to be the Raffensperger responding to Trump's call in 2020 asking for more votes? Would one have stood by the wrestlers in their fight against the Federation head?
July 26, 2025
The nation hangs its head in shame when its Central Government defends sexual predators against upstanding girls who have brought glory to the country.
Every person who has read this must weep with shame when a girl is molested or raped, that too with such impunity that the entire government system comes out to defend the perpetrator and not the victim.
I’m sorry Sakshi, for what you had to go through.
I’m sorry for not coming to the protests. I’m a Delhiite and should have stepped up to support.
Before this book I had never followed Wrestling but would always remember your story now, whenever a wrestling discussion would come up or a match news would show up in a newspaper or news.
Be Brave. Always.
Jai Hind.
Every person who has read this must weep with shame when a girl is molested or raped, that too with such impunity that the entire government system comes out to defend the perpetrator and not the victim.
I’m sorry Sakshi, for what you had to go through.
I’m sorry for not coming to the protests. I’m a Delhiite and should have stepped up to support.
Before this book I had never followed Wrestling but would always remember your story now, whenever a wrestling discussion would come up or a match news would show up in a newspaper or news.
Be Brave. Always.
Jai Hind.
October 26, 2024
One of the most important books of the year. Told with such reassuring honesty and courage that despite the many utterly dismal episodes about how skewed gender relations and power are in our world, it leaves you with a forceful hope and strength. Highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews