In pics: Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik returns from Rio to grand welcome

Sakshi Malik, the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal whose bronze opened the medal count of two including a silver, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Sakshi Malik, the first Indian woman wrestler to win an Olympic medal whose bronze opened the medal count of two including a silver for her country, arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Hectic preparations are underway to receive Malik at her village in Rohtak district of Haryana. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

She left Rio after leading the Indian contingent in the closing ceremony bearing the tricolour as about 50 Indians, including the men’s and women’s hockey teams, the wrestlers and boxer duo of Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar, participated in the athletes’ parade.

India rolled out the red carpet on Wednesday and gave Malik a rousing reception at the New Delhi airport.

Sakshi Malik welcomed by fans and ministers after she arrived at the T3 International Airport in New Delhi. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Sakshi Malik savouring her bronze medal with her parents at Haryana state guest house in New Delhi. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik gets a rousing reception by Tikri border villagers on her way home to Rohtak. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Bronze medallist Sakshi Malik felicitated by Tikri villagers on her way home to Rohtak. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Sakshi Malik with her father at Haryana state guest house in New Delhi. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Hectic preparations are underway to receive Malik at her village in Rohtak district of Haryana.

Employees of municipal corporation in Rohtak chopping off tree branches and trimming the bushes outside Olympic medal winner Sakshi Malik’s house ahead of her arrival from Rio on Tuesday in Rohtak. (Manoj Dhaka/HT photo)

Residents of Mokhar village raising a tent to honour Olympic medal winner Sakshi Malik at her native on Tuesday. (Manoj Dhaka/HT photo)

Haryana’s sports and youth affairs minister Anil Vij, who was present in Rio as head of state delegation, accompanied the star wrestler on the return flight.

India ended the Games at 67th position with one silver and a bronze. United States of America topped the medals tally with 121 medals (46 Gold, 37 Silver, 38 Bronze), followed by Great Britain (27 23 17) and China (26 18 26). Host country Brazil were at 13th position with 7 Gold, 6 Silver and 6 Bronze.