Rio de Janeiro, (PTI) India's Deepa Malik today created
history by becoming the first-ever woman from the country to win
a medal at the Paralympics when she bagged a silver in the shotput
F-53 event here.
Deepa's best throw of 4.61m from her six attempts was enough
to clinch the silver medal.
India, thus, now have secured three medal from the Rio Paralympics.
Deepa will receive a cash award of Rs 4 crore under Haryana
Sports Scheme for her feat.
Bahrain's Fatema Nedham won the gold medal with a best throw
of 4.76m, while Dimitra Korokida of Greece bagged the bronze medal
with a throw of 4.28m.
Deepa is a paraplegic, paralysed from waist down and mother
of two and wife of an Army officer. Life took a twist when a spinal
tumour made walking impossible for her 17 years ago.
The spinal tumour had to be operated and 31 surgeries were conducted
on Deepa which was healed after 183 stitches between her waist and legs.
Besides shotput, Deepa has participated in javelin throw, swimming
and has also been a motivational speaker.
She has also won medals in swimming at international competitions.
She holds the Asian record in javelin throw, and also has World Championships
silver medals in shot put and discus in 2011.
Deepa's silver is India's third medal of the Games after Mariyappan
Thangavelu and Varun Singh Bhati won gold and bronze respectively
in men's high jump.