Anxieties were sky high. The fear of an unknown rival lurked deep within. Aiming for a win all that one wanted was drawing first blood with one effective punch. Back in 2016, the two were rivals, both competing in the 56kg division at the state school championships in Narwana. Both did not know each other. As rivals they did’nt see eye to eye. One loss was always reason for heated exchanges. When Anshu lost the match to Sonamher father felt she should have won. In the end, it led to an argument between him and Sonam's father. Months later Anshu beat Sonam at the state cadet championships. A furious father of Sonam alleged his daughter had been cheated.
The bitter speak continued until one day when the two powerhouse wrestlers made their way to the national cadet camp in Lucknow the same year. This was the time when the two for the first time were away from family and got to bond well. Both became roommates and then came the realization that they had a lot in common. Fortunately that paved way for a good camaraderie between the two.
Separated by just 39 kilometres, Anshu hails from the Nidani village of Jind district and Sonam from Madina in neighbouring Sonepat. Both boast of a wrestling family.
Even though Anshu winning the national title represented India at the Asian and World Cadet championships, both prove equals in their own right.
Seeing promise in each other even the parents buried their hatchet and came to an agreement. It was a conscious decision by the seniors in the family that they move to different weight divisions. Both youngsters agreed.
Anshu went on to compete in the lighter 57kg division, while Sonam wrestled in the 56kg. The results since that were phenomenal.
As time progressed Sonam chose to graduate to the 65kg category and Anshu opted for 62kg category.
Seeing both daughters in harmony, even the parents have started working together now. They travel to the camp and competitions in India to support their daughters.
Of the two, Anshu is the more extroverted.
Anshu recently said "We have won the Nationals together, we have won the World Championships together. Now we are going to the Olympic qualifiers together."
On Saturday, Anshu Malik -- at 19 years eight months and five days old -- became the youngest Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics beating Uzbekistan's Shokhida Akhmetova in the semifinals in Almaty. 15 minutes later, that record was broken when Sonam Malik, four days bfore her 19th birthday beat Kazakhstan's Ayaulym Kassymova in the semifinals of the women's 62kg division.
It's clear that the two share a great bond. Indeed, the first calls of congratulations Anshu's father Dharamvir received was from Sonam's father Raj Malik.
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