A differently abled Deepa Malik (48) a Para athlete from the state of Haryana is the first Indian woman athlete to won a Silver medal in the Rio Paralympics. She has been conferred with the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award, the country’s highest sporting award, by President Ramnath Kovind.

She has received this honour for important achievements in Para Games. After getting the Khel Ratna, Deepa says that now she has increased her enthusiasm to do more. Deepa is the second para athlete in the country to receive the highest sporting honor

She also won silver medal in the shot put (Golafenk) at the 2016 summer Rio Paralympic in the Shot put. In addition, she has won bronze in the Asian Games at Bhalafenk. Mrs. Malik was previously honoured with the Arjuna Award for athletic in 2012 , she had also been conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2017. She won many other awards and has set many records.

Deepa Malik made her own way and received the distinction of being at the forefront of the country many times. She has internationally illuminated the name of the country. Today, her hard work has once again been honored. After receiving the country’s highest sports award ‘Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna’, she feels that she has got a destination but something new has to be done.

Deepa Malik, said – ‘If you get one floor, the courage to get the next floor increases.’, as per local local reports.

Every human has a talent or a hobby. Now if you fulfill your hobbies with heart, then you will become achiever. What I did, I was fond of swimming, car, motorcycle. It was these hobbies that became my achievements now. Because I learned them well, nurtured, groomed, worked hard and took them to the top. Deepa Malik tells her Divyang companions to move forward.”

Neha Nidhi

  Disability, sports, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT