Deepa Malik created history when she became the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics. She won the silver medal in the women’s shotput F53 event at the Rio Paralympics on Monday, with a personal best throw of 4.61m. Here are 5 interesting facts about Deepa Malik.
1) Role in sports and Physical Education
She is a member of the working group in the formulation of the 12th five- year plan (2012-2017). She is part of the team working on Sports and Physical Education as nominated by the Planning Commission HRD Division on behalf of the Sports Ministry.
2) Motor Sports
Deepa Malik was the first person ever to receive a license for an invalid (modified) rally vehicle. She had to pursue this case consistently for 19 months in Maharashtra.
Deepa is also the first physically challenged individual in the country to receive an official rally license from the Federation Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI). She become a navigator and driver in the toughest car rallies of the country- Raid-de-HIMALAYA 2009 and Desert Storm 2010.
3) 3000 km trek
One of Deepa’s most adventurous steps was the 3,000 km journey she took from Delhi to Leh and back on a specially enabled car. The hand-controlled vehicle would take her through the Rohtang pass up until the highest motorable pass in the world, the Khardung La, at an elevation of 5,359m.
This was reported by the Times of India. This record is especially remarkable when we take into account that Deepa has no control over her bladder and bowel movement and also has no control of her body beneath her chest.
4) Could have been a swimmer
Deepa might have done India proud in shot put. But, she could as easily have brought laurels as a swimmer.
“The Maharashtra Paralympic Sports Association had earlier seen me swimming. They asked me if I wanted to participate in the Nationals and that it was a sure shot medal because I was going to be the first one in my disability category. I could swim but I never knew that it was worth a medal,” Disability News and Information Service quoted her as saying.
5) Oldest Indian to win a Paralympic medal
Deepa is not only the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics, she is also the oldest. At 45, Deepa is older than any other Indian to have ever earned a podium finish at the Paralympics.
