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Deepa is India's 1st woman Paralympics Silver Medalist
Updated : Sep 13, 2016
Yet another Deepa has made India proud in the sports arena. In the Rio Olympics it was Dipa Karmakar rewrote history by becoming the first woman gymnast to qualify for Olympics and later missed a medal by a whisker, this time it is Deepa Malik bagged a silver medal in the women's shotput F53 event at the 2016 Rio Paralympics Games, clinching the silver with a personal best throw of 4.61 metres on Monday. "I want to use this medal to support women with disabilities in India. This journey has been wonderful for me and my entire family, I am proud to be the oldest athlete in the team and win a medal," the 45-year-old, who is the oldest in the Indian contingent in Rio to win a medal said. 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 silver is third medal of the Games after gold and bronze were won by Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Singh Bhati in men’s high jump.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated her by tweeting, "Well done @DeepaAthlete! Your silver at the #Paralympics makes the nation very proud. Congratulations. #Rio2016".
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also celebrated her victory. He tweeted, "Many Congratulations @DeepaAthlete for your phenomenal performance at the #paralympics.. Here's to many more victories!"