Wrestler Sonam Malik gave herself the best birthday present last month — she secured a Tokyo berth just a few days before turning 19, thereby becoming the youngest Indian woman wrestler to qualify for the Olympics. But she is in no mood to rest and is determined to grapple harder for a bigger piece of the cake.

“When I went for the qualifiers, I had told myself that I would definitely come back with an Olympic ticket. That done, now I vow to put up a commendable performance at the Tokyo Games to make India proud,” Sonam told The Telegraph from her home in Madina village in the Sonepat district of Haryana.

Sonam won the quota by virtue of entering the gold medal round in women’s 62kg freestyle event at the Asian Olympic qualifiers in Almaty, Kazakhstan. In the semi-finals, she defeated Kazakhstan’s Ayaulym Kassymova to seal her berth since finalists in each of the weight categories were allotted Olympic quota places.

Initially she was trailing Kassymova 0-6 but reeled off nine points in a row to secure herself the quots.

She, however, withdrew from the final with an injury to her right knee, which is still bothering her. Is it hampering her Olympic preparations?

“I have made 80 per cent recovery and am confident of being at my hundred per cent soon,” Sonam said.

“Though I’m not doing mat training now, I’m doing exercises to strengthen my upper body muscles.”

Agreed her coach Ajmer Malik. “A physio is working on her rehabilitation and in 15 days I expect her to be ready for full training. During this recovery period, we will focus on her techniques.”

The wrestlers are lined up for the World Ranking Series in Poland next month.

“Can’t really say now whether Sonam would be ready for the Poland stint. We’ve got to observe how her recovery goes and then we’ll talk to the federation and see how it all holds up,” Ajmer added.

Sonam is particularly happy that close friend and training partner Anshu Malik (57kg) will also be boarding the flight to Tokyo.

“Anshu and I have been together since 2017. We push each other and motivate each other and though we are in different weight divisions, we usually train together. To qualify with her is one of the best feelings,” the two-time World Cadet champion said.

Sonam announced her arrival on the circuit by defeating Rio Olympic medallist Sakshi Malik four times in recent trials, making the 62kg category her own. “Yes, I had to beat her, there was no choice since both Sakshi and I are in the same weight category,” said Sonam.

“To oust her was my first step forward and of course a confidence-booster.”

Coach Ajmer, who runs the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Sports Centre in Madina, recalled Sonam’s early days in wrestling.

“Sonam, a friend’s daughter, had come to me when she was 11-12 years of age and right from the beginning, she has been very focused, dedicated and determined.

“I expect a good performance from her at the Olympics,” he said.

With Seema Bisla also securing a berth, it will be four India women wrestlers at the Games. World No. 1 Vinesh Phogat (53 kg) qualified through the 2019 World Championships.

Four men grapplers — Bajrang Punia (65kg), Ravi Dahiya (57kg), Deepak Punia (86kg) and Sumit Malik (125kg) — will also fight for honours at the showpiece event.