04 October,2016 11:32 AM IST | | Narendra Sastry
Deepa Malik, who became the first Indian women and oldest athlete ever to win a medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics believes that the Indian paralympic paradigm is on the cusp of a revolution
India's Rio Paralympics' medal winners pose alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar (second from right) at a felicitation ceremony in the city yesterday. Pic/Nimesh Dave
India's Rio Paralympics' medal winners pose alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar (second from right) at a felicitation ceremony in the city yesterday. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Deepa Malik, who became the first Indian women and oldest athlete ever to win a medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics believes that the Indian paralympic paradigm is on the cusp of a revolution.
Flooded with calls
"We definitely are transforming now. Before the Rio paralympics, we used to have sleepless nights in hopes of getting our hands on the medals. Now the medal is depriving us of sleep because of so many calls to congratulate us. These four medals have contributed to a revolution," the 46-year-old paraplegic Deepa, who won silver in the women's shot put F53 event in Rio, said during an event at the Mumbai Cricket Association's academy yesterday.
Malik along with the other Rio Paralympics' medallists - Devendra Jhajharia (javelin F46 gold), Mariyappan Thangavelu (men's high jump T42 gold), Varun Singh Bhati (men's high jump T42 bronze) were felicitated by Aster DM Healthcare's chairman Dr Azad Moopen along with Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Malik also revealed the ignorance in the country eight years ago. "In 2008, when I used to compete in swimming and was heading for the World Championships, a senior politician met us and there, as a gift we were given biscuit packets and a bunch of bananas," Deppa said.
Ridiculous questions
"I was also asked how I could manage jumping with a parachute despite being a paraplegic. I had to explain to them that I compete in paralympic sport. The situation has changed. The only thing we need is infrastructure and continued support from here on," Deepa added.
The organisers also recognised the achievements of past paralympic medal winners - Murlikant Petkar (50m freestyle swimming gold in 1972), Bhimrao Kesarkar (javelin silver in 1984), Joginder Singh Bedi (men's shot put silver in 1984), Rajinder Singh Rahelu (power lifting bronze in 2004) and HN Girisha (men's high jump F42 silver in 2012).
Tendulkar was effusive in his praise and said, "All sportsmen have their share of trials. But, for these athletes, it multiplies many fold. They are living examples, who have just reminded us that it is only your mind which is an obstacle sometimes and you can overcome that and achieve your targets," he explained.
