PM Modi gives cash award to Rio Paralympics medallist

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday honoured Rio Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik by giving her a cash award of Rs.4 crore in a function organised to kick off the year-long Haryana golden jubilee celebrations in the state.

Accompanied by Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Haryana Sports Minister Anil Vij, the Prime Minister walked up to Malik who was on her wheel chair, and handed over the award.

The 46-year-old became the first Indian woman Paralympic medallist when she clinched silver at the Rio Games with a personal best throw of 4.61 metre in the women's shot put - F53 final event.

Deepa, 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 her 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.

--IANS

pradeep/tri/vm