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Thirteen Things to Know About Indian Paralympic Deepa Malik

Malik, 46, is the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Paralympics for the F-53 in shot put. Her courage and her way of leading her life is extremely inspiring.

Written by: Chhaya Nene
Published: September 15, 2016, 9:24 PM IST
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[Photo Credit: Getty Images/Hindustan Times]

Deepa Malik has many things to celebrate. Malik, 46, is the first Indian woman to win a silver medal in the 2016 Rio Paralympics for the F-53 in shot put. Her courage and her way of leading her life is extremely inspiring.
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Here are some things to know about the inspiring athlete.

1. Malik is being sponsored by the GoSports Foundation through the Para Champions Programme. She experiences no sensation below the chest and has almost 200 stitches between her shoulder blades. Malik became disabled in 1999 from a spinal tumor that had to be operated on which involved 31 surgeries.

2. Her main events include shot put, javelin throw, and motorcycling. When she won silver, it made for India’s third win from the Paralympics. The win means a cash award of 4 crore rupees under the Haryana Sports Scheme.

3. Malik is the oldest recipient of the Arjuna award in 2012 at the age of 42.

4. She’s associated with Himalayan Motorsports Association and the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs in India.

5. She spent 8 days going on a 1,700 km drive in temperatures that fell below freezing. At 18,000 feet, when oxygen was low, she could still manage herself. The trip was called Raid De Himalaya and went through remote parts of the Himalayas, Leh, Shimla, and Jammu. She was a navigator and driver in one of the toughest rallies in India. She’s participated in Desert Storm 2010.

6. She completed the longest drive from Chennai to Dubai in 2013.

7. Malik is married with two daughters, Devika and Ambika. Both her husband and her father are veterans.

8. She has won numerous medals that include 54 national and state awards. President Role Model Award (2014), Arjuna Award (2012), Maharashtra Chhatrapati Award (sports) (2009-2010), Haryana Karambhoomi Award (2008), and Swawlamban Puruskar Maharashtra (2006).

9. She holds nine records and rankings including an official IPC Asian record in Javelin, three national records in throws, three national records in swimming (backstroke, breast stroke, and freestyle), world ranking (2010-2012) for shot put, discus, and javelin, Asian ranking from 2010-2012.

10. Malik is a motivational speaker and was a former beauty queen.

11. She was the first person to ever receive a license for a modified rally vehicle in Maharashtra. She was also the first physically challenged person to receive an official rally license from the Federation Motor Sports Club of India.

12. Malik ran a catering and restaurant business for seven years from 2003-2010.

13. Malik has been quoted saying that the best thing for those is a wheelchair is to keep their bodies toned and fit because it allows for one to have focus and a goal. She has also said that transitioning from life without a wheelchair to a life confined to one was a huge adjustment that has become easier with the advent of the Internet and increased support from various communities. Several notable personalities took to Twitter to express their joy and love to Malik:

Follow Malik on Twitter here.

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About the Author

Chhaya Nene

Chhaya Nene

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