A spinal tumour left Deepa paralysed waist-below in 1999. After six years of being in the wheelchair, she turned to para-sports. Competing alongside the able-bodied, at the Commonwealth Games 2010, she became the icon of para-sports. Deepa, who received the Arjuna Award in 2012 at the age of 42, holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature, and is now a para-sports coach with the Haryana Sports Department.

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. She also rallied on the Himalayan race and the desert storm, two of the most treacherous routes with the Himalayan Motorsports Association and Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India. And in 2009, she biked 1,700 km in sub-zero temperatures in a span of eight days at an altitude of 18,000 feet.

Deepa Malik’s Achievements:

– Has qualified for Shotput Throw for the Rio Olympics, 2016

– Holds 4 records in adventure sports, including two records in the Limca Book

– Has won 55 national medals and 13 international medals

– In 2012, she received the Arjuna Award

– She won two gold medals (Javelin and Discus) at the Malaysian Open Athletics Championship in April, 2013, and achieved world No. 3 ranking.