Paralympian Deepa Malik awarded Rs. 4 crores by PM Narendra Modi

Deepa Malik became the first female athlete to represent India at the Paralympics when she qualified for the women's shot put event at Rio in September. The Arjuna Award recipient went a step further by securing a silver medal by throwing a personal career best of 4.61m. 

On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Sports Minister Anil Vij, felicitated Deepa by presenting her with a cash reward of Rs. 4 crores. As a part of a ceremony organised by the Haryana state government to kick off the year-long golden jubilee celebrations, the PM presented Deepa with the reward.

After suffering a spinal tumour in 1999, which required three surgeries and left her paralysed from the waist down, Deepa fought back all the odds to achieve her dreams by training in para-sports. Besides shot put, Deepa has expertise in javelin throw, swimming and has been working as a motivational speaker over the years.