Deepa Malik wins silver for shot put at Rio Paralympics

NEW DELHI: India’s Deepa Malik won a silver medal at the Rio Paralympics in the women’s shot put F53 event on Monday with a personal best throw of 4.61 metres. With this, she became the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic history. Despite being paralysed down the chest, Deepa has excelled in many sports and won numerous national and international medals.

Two days after India won gold and bronze at the Rio Paralympics, Deepa Malik completed the set by landing silver in the women’s shot put on Monday.

The mother of two daughters scripted history by becoming the country’s first woman to win a medal at the Paralympics, heaving to a distance of 4.61m in the shot put F-53 event.

For 45-year-old army officer’s wife, who has been on a wheelchair since 2000, it’s a victory over disability. “I am happy today. If I can achieve this, anybody can do it. So, whatever may be the circumstance in life, never lose hope and have faith in yourself,” Deep a said .“It’ s the biggest day of my life. Today I was able to make the country proud at the world’ s highest sporting arena. Years of hard work has finally paid dividends.”

Deepa even had to surmount legal hurdle before heading to Rio after another para-athlete Jyoti K am al filed a case challenging her selection. She contended that she should be sent, having won the quota for the country due to her topfive world ranking.

But in the trials, Deepa did better and was selected. Later, Jyoti also got a place in the squad after Russia’s ban created fresh slots.

Deepa owes her success to her never-say-die attitude.

Malik, who lives in Sonepat, had three major spinal injuries that required 153 stitch es. After the third injury, it became clear she will never walk again. Deepa had cancer in her spinal cord, which required surgery. But in 2000, there was relapse and the doctor told her that after surgery she won’t be able to walk again. “At the start it was end of the life for me, but then I found a way to live life and sports is one of my discoveries to live life like a queen,” she said in an interview after winning a medal at the 2010 Asian Games.