Deepa Malik Wins Silver At Rio To Become 1st Indian Woman Paralympic Medallist

Deepa Malik became the first Indian woman Paralympic medallist when she clinched silver at the 2016 Rio Games with a personal best throw of 4.61m in the women's shot put - F53 final event on Monday.

Bahrain's Fatema Nedham took the gold with a best throw of 4.76m while Dimitra Korokida of Greece took bronze with a best throw of 4.28m.

Deepa registered a throw of 4.26m to start of with but her second throw was 4.49 while the third was 4.41. She then bettered her personal best with a throw of 4.61m.

"It feels incredible to fulfill a lifelong ambition. My preparations were really good and I improved tremendously this year. I gave my personal best at the trials in July and furthered that here now in Rio. It is an extremely satisfying feeling and a big thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years," said Deepa Malik after winning the silver.

"This is our third medal now in Rio and I sincerely hope people back home wake up and acknowledge the potential of Para sports in India," she added.

Deepa Malik, who is a recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2012, is a paraplegic, paralysed from waist down and mother of two and wife of an Army officer.

A spinal tumour left Deepa paralysed waist-below in 1999. 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. After six years of being in the wheelchair, she turned to para-sports.

Besides shot put, 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 name is registered twice in the Limca Book of Records, once for crossing 1 km stretch of the Yamuna River against the current in 2008, and then again for covering 58 km by riding a special bike in 2013.

This is India's third medal of the Games.

Mariyappan Thangavelu of Tamil Nadu had won the gold in men's high jump T-42 event by jumping a personal best of 1.89m while Varun Singh Bhati also secured a personal best of 1.86m in the same event to win a bronze.

(With inputs from PTI)