Camp for Differently Abled Person on 2nd Oct 2016

Schemes for Disables Persons

From Paralysis To A Paralympian: The Inspiring Story Of Deepa Malik

For those who have heard of her, Deepa Malik's name is synonymous with grit and courage. Her story is not just another inspirational tale; it will leave even the best of the best biting the dust. 

After being diagnosed with a spinal tumour in 1999, she underwent 3 spinal surgeries and got 183 stitches between her shoulder blades in a period of 14 years. If you think that stopped her, you're grossly mistaken. That only made her stronger and more determined. Here's her incredible story.

Raised in an army family and married to an army officer, she is used to braving difficulties that most of us can't even think of facing. The mother of two was diagnosed with the tumour in while her husband was fighting in the Kargil war and her daughter was unwell. 


It was, of course, a very difficult period for the family. While her husband went on to win the war for India, she won her own battle as well.

She was left paralysed from the waist down and the doctors told her that she would never walk again. What the doctors didn't know is that Deepa Malik wasn't any ordinary woman. Giving up was not her style. She decided to become a swimmer, a biker, an athlete & an adventure junkie. And all this at the age of 36!


Now, aged 45, she is one of India's 19 Paralympians at Rio 2016. 

At an age when most athletes are considering retirement, Deepa was just getting started. She began by joining the Himalayan Motorsports Association and conquered an 8-day 1,700 km bike ride to 18,000 feet in sub-zero temperatures.

She even rode on the TV reality show Roadies, by personal invitation of Raghu & the Roadies crew.

A huge fan of biking, she took up swimming to make her shoulders and arms stronger for the bike rides. But her prowess in the water was just as amazing as on the open road. 


She went on to break multiple records in the sport. 

Deepa has entered the Limca Book of Records 4 times. 

• She completed the longest drive in India (3,278 kms from Chennai to Delhi) in 2013.
• In 2011, she became the first paraplegic woman to drive to Khardunga La pass, the highest motorable pass in the world. 
• She rode a special bike for 58 kms in 2009.
• In 2008, she crossed a 1 km stretch of the Yamuna river against the current.

If you think that's all there is to her story, you're still nowhere close. The woman can also do javelin throws and shot put, an event in which she will be participating at the Rio Paralympics.

She had earlier been shortlisted for India's delegation to the 2012 London Paralympics, but since India had received only 10 spots, an all-male contingent was sent and she missed her chance. 

This time, however, India is sending 19 athletes.

She is 45 years old, or should I say she holds 45 years of experience of fighting spirit and is well in contention of bringing home a medal from Rio.

At the national level, Deepa has won around 54 medals to add to the 13 at international level in javelin throws, shot put & swimming. So the records are on her side and so is her habit of winning.

Her amazing achievements in the world of swimming and her passion to follow her dreams got her an Arjuna Award in 2012.

She maybe confined to a wheelchair, but her heart takes her to places where our legs don't.

Rio Paralympics 2016: India wins historic gold and bronze in high jump

India's Mariyappan Thangavelu and Bhati Varun Singh celebrate their gold and bronze medals. AFP

In a historic moment for India, Mariyappan Thangavelu won the gold medal while compatriot Varun Singh Bhati clinched the bronze in the men's high jump T-42 event on Saturday at the Rio Paralympics.

The 20-year-old Thangavelu made a leap of 1.89m, while Bhati jumped his personal best of 1.86m to finish third. USA's Sam Grewe bagged the silver medal.

India's other medal prospect Sharad Kumar finished at number six.

T-42 is a disability classification in the sport for differently-abled track-and-field athletes with single ‘above the knee’ amputations or a comparable disability.

The event witnessed a fierce contest with six of the 12 athletes clearing the 1.74m mark in their first eight attempts.

But Thangavelu became a part of the leading group after his 10th attempt when he cleared the 1.77m mark along with Lukasz Mamczarz of Poland, China's Zhiqiang Zhing and Kumar.

He then went into the lead along with Bhati as both managed to clear the 1.83m mark. Kumar however, could not improve his performance and eventually crashed out of medal contention. Grewe pushed Thangavelu and Bhati to the joint second position by clearing 1.86m to grab the top spot.

But both Indians made a strong comeback by equalling the height to share the pole position.

Thangavelu eventually made sure of the gold with an effort of 1.89m in his final attempt while Grewe and Bhati's finished with best efforts of 1.86m.

Thangavelu was injured at the age of five, when a bus accident left him with a permanent disability, according to a report in The Hindu. Bronze medal winner Bhati was diagnosed with polio which lead to a deformity in his legs, according to a NDTV report. 

This is India's first medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games, and with Bhati's bronze, India now has two medals in this edition. Thangavelu also became the first Indian high jumper to win a Paralympics gold.  HN Girisha was the first Indian high-jumper to win a medal, at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

He is also the third Indian to win a gold at Paralympics after Murlikant Petkar, who won in Swimming, at Heidelberg 1972 and Devendra Jhajharia who won at Athens 2004 in Javelin Throw. India's overall medal tally in all Paralympic Games has now stands at 10 – three golds, three silvers and four bronze.