‘MEDAL WAS 10 YRS IN MAKING’
NOT AN EASY JOURNEY, DEEPA MALIK TELLS HT
Back in India after her historic achievement — her medal was the first in Paralympics for an Indian female athlete — Deepa Malik is relieved and grateful her hard work of 10 years has paid off. She now wants to use the silver medal, the most prized possession at her residence in Gurgaon, as a symbol to inspire others.
Excerpts:
When did you start preparing for the Rio games?
After missing Beijing and London I did not want to miss out this time. It took me 10 years to win this medal and the journey was not easy. Initially, I was a swimmer but then it got down to making a choice between javelin and shot put. Then in 2009, I opted for shot put and worked on it.
Do you think more needs to be done for para-athletes?
Yes, there is a lot to be done for the para-athletes; the proposed Para-Olympic Bhawan at Faridabad will be a platform for the people to get proper training, focus and diet. We just need to be diligent with the infrastructure and the architecture so that people on the wheel chair can move around.
What role has your family played in the achievement?
Without their support, it would not have been possible. From my training sessions to sleep, they had taken care of everything. They did not even let me drive during the preparations as they wanted to ensure I don’t get involved in any minor accident. My daughters did not let me chop vegetables for fear of cuts that could hurt my opportunity to take part in the Paralympics.