Deepa Malik hails Tendulkar's attempt seeking CGHS facility for athletes

Calling it a 'thoughtful' initiative, Paralympic athelete Deepa Malik has hailed Sachin Tendulkar's letter to the Prime Minister to include all international medallists in Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

In his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, legendary Tendulkar has talked about the plight that elite athletes go through during health issues and has thus asked for inclusion of all international sportspersons in the list of players eligible for CGHS facilities.

Talking to ANI about Sachin's move, Deepa said, "He [Sachin] is a retired player now and a person of his esteem is thinking of giving back to the sports fraternity now. This is going to be a wonderful move if it is accepted."

"I feel it is very important for the athletes who have brought such huge glory who has contributed their whole life in bringing home medals and putting our country on the global map," said Deepa, the first Indian woman to win a medal in Paralympic Games.

She also cited an example from past where once Prime Minister Modi had compared the life of a sports person to that of a soldier.

"A soldier faces all challenges and even gets injured in the line of duty yet keeps the Indian flag flying high. Similarly, the Prime Minister had compared a sports person's journey, who has dedicated his life and has become prone to injuries while training to win medal for the country," Deepa said.

She added that if there is so much similarity visible the two, then similar health care provisions and pension schemes should also be given to them.