Who won the first medal for India at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games?

Introduction / Context:
This question asks about Indias first medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Remembering which athlete opened the medal tally for India is an important part of recent Olympic general knowledge.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The question can be summarised as follows.

• The event is the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
• We must identify the first Indian athlete to win a medal at these games.
• Options include Babita Kumari, Narsingh Yadav, P V Sindhu and Sakshi Malik.

Concept / Approach:
At Rio 2016, India won two medals. Wrestler Sakshi Malik won a bronze medal in womens freestyle wrestling and became the first Indian to win a medal at those games. Later, badminton star P V Sindhu won a silver medal in womens singles, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic silver in badminton. Babita Kumari and Narsingh Yadav did not win medals at Rio. Therefore, the correct answer is Sakshi Malik.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Indias first medal at Rio came from wrestling, not from badminton. Step 2: Identify Sakshi Malik as the wrestler who won bronze in womens 58 kilogram freestyle. Step 3: Remember that P V Sindhu won her silver medal after Sakshi Maliks bronze, so Sindhu was not the first medallist. Step 4: Recognise that Babita Kumari and Narsingh Yadav faced difficulties and controversies and did not secure medals. Step 5: Conclude that Sakshi Malik was the first Indian medallist at Rio 2016.

Verification / Alternative check:
News coverage from that period described how Sakshi Maliks bronze broke the medal drought for India at Rio and gave a big boost to the countrys morale. Only after her success did P V Sindhu add a silver. If you recall this sequence of headlines, it confirms that Sakshi Malik got the first medal and that Sindhu, although very famous, was the second medallist.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A Babita Kumari is wrong because she did not win a medal at Rio 2016. Option B Narsingh Yadav is incorrect due to his non participation after disciplinary issues and he did not win a medal. Option C P V Sindhu is wrong in the context of being the first medallist, because her silver medal came after Sakshi Maliks bronze.

Common Pitfalls:
A very common mistake is to choose P V Sindhu simply because her silver medal and world ranking received huge media attention. However, the question focuses on the first medal, not the highest medal. Carefully reading the word first in such questions is essential to selecting the correct answer.

Final Answer:
The first medal for India at the Rio 2016 Olympics was won by Sakshi Malik.