India’s unsung hero: Deepa Malik, India’s first woman Paralympian medalist

Deepa Malik’s won the Silver medal in shot put in Rio 2016, making her the first Indian sportswoman to achieve the feat ever.

A spinal tumour, 31 surgeries, more than 150 stitches between her shoulder blades, and getting operated while her husband was serving India during the Kargil war, none of them could keep Deepa Malik from achieving what she had set out to do.

Even after being told when she was 26 that her choices were between paralysis and death due to the tumour, and getting confined to a wheelchair, for her, physical disability has not been able to pose a challenge that could weaken her spirit. It has only made her stronger, feeding confidence as she stepped forward to continue to take part in various sports.

Such courage is what led to her to ultimately earn the title of the 'first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic games' during the summer of 2016.

Malik, 46, who won a silver medal in shot put for the country last year, despite her disability, has plenty of other feathers in her hat of successes and achievements as well.

A fifth position in IPC Athletics World Championship, Doha, 2015, for shot put, a gold medal for javelin and a silver for shot put in IPC Oceania Asian Championship, Dubai, 2016 are only two among many other accolades she has secured. She has also completed a 1700-km drive, Raid De Himalaya, which covers remote areas of Himalayas, Leh, Shimla and Jammu.

The many laurels and 18 international medals that she has won, continue to give confidence to many facing challenges in their lives of various types, as they remain a source of inspiration for all Indians.

"Disability brought my life into focus," she had once said in an interview. On how can people overcome such a challenge, she added that acceptance of the disability by their families and friends will make a lot of difference.

In addition to her career and life being an example and help to others like her, she was also a member of the group in the formulation of 12th five- year plan on Sports and Physical Education and was nominated on behalf of the sports ministry.

Malik, who has also received the prestigious Arjuna Award, like her endeavours, attempted and succeeded her Himalayan drive with the goal of providing encouragement and acceptance for people like her into the mainstream. In this case, for example, she joined motor sports to spread awareness towards the fact that physically challenged individuals can obtain an official license and attain independence and self-reliance through driving.

Such work along with examples of her achievements and the constant drive towards new goals is what continues to motivate those with disabilities and facing tough odds in life, just like she did nearly two-decades ago, to achieve empowerment and equality.

National and state awards

• President Role Model Award (2014)
• Arjuna Award (2012)
• Maharashtra Chhatrapati Award (sports) (2009-10)
• Haryana Karambhoomi Award (2008)
• Swawlamban Puruskar Maharashtra (2006)
• Padmashri Award (2017)

Records and Ranking

• Holds An Official IPC Asian Record In Javelin F-53 Category
• Holds All Three National Records In Throws {Discuss, Javelin, Shot-put} In F-53 Category
• Holds All Three National Records In S-1 Swimming Category {Back Stroke, Breast Stroke, Free Style}
• World Ranking 2010-12 - 2nd Shot-put, 3rd -Discus, 3rd Javelin
• Asian Ranking 2010-12 - 1st In All Three Throws

LIMCA World Records

• Longest pan-India drive done by a paraplegic women. Chennai-Delhi 3278 km - 2013
• Driving Across Nine High Altitude Passes in Nine Days on Leh-Ladakh Highest Motorable Roads. (First Woman in the world in her disability to attempt a journey like this - 2011)
• Riding Special Bike -2009
• Swimming in River Yamuna Against The Current For 1 km. Allahabad-2008

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