AhmadFosbery49 at 22:39, 21 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian paralympic swimmer, biker, and athlete (born 1970)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Deepa Malik
| image = Deepa Malik.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Malik in 2016
| fullname = Deepa Malik
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1970|9|30}}
|module = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes
| office = President of [[Paralympic Committee of India]]
| term_start = 1 February 2020
| term_end = 8 March 2024
| predecessor = Gursharan Singh (Acting President)
| successor = [[Devendra Jhajharia]]
}}
| birth_place = Bhainswal, [[Haryana]], [[India]]<ref name="Meet Deepa">{{cite news |title=Rio Paralympics: Meet Deepa Malik, athlete extraordinaire |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/Rio-Paralympics-Meet-Deepa-Malik-athlete-extraordinaire/articleshow/54013329.cms |access-date=31 August 2017 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=TNN |date=5 September 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170831184919/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/Rio-Paralympics-Meet-Deepa-Malik-athlete-extraordinaire/articleshow/54013329.cms |archive-date=31 August 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| country = India
| event = [[Shot Put]], [[Javelin Throw]], [[Discus Throw]], [[Swimming (sport)|Swimming]] & [[Motorcycling]]
| paralympics = [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio de Janeiro]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}} {{MedalSport|Women's athletics}} {{MedalCompetition|[[Paralympic Games]]}}[[File:IPC logo (2019).svg|center|40px]]{{MedalSilver|[[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio de Janeiro]]|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics - Women's shot put|Shot put – F53]]}} {{MedalCompetition|[[IPC Athletics World Championships|IPC World Championships]]}} {{MedalSilver|[[2011 IPC Athletics World Championships|2011 Christchurch]]|[[2011 IPC Athletics World Championships – Women's shot put#F52/53|Shot put – F52-53]]}} {{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Para Games]]}} {{MedalBronze|[[2010 Asian Para Games|2010 Guangzhou]]|[[2010 Asian Para Games – Women's Javelin Throw#F33/34/52/53|Javelin throw – F33-34-52-53]]}} {{MedalSilver|[[2014 Asian Para Games|2014 Incheon]]|[[2014 Asian Para Games – Women's Javelin Throw#F53/54|Javelin throw -F53-54]]}} {{MedalBronze|[[2018 Asian Para Games|2018 Jakarta]]|[[2018 Asian Para Games – Women's Discus throw#F51-52-53|Discus throw – F51/52/53]]}} {{MedalBronze|[[2018 Asian Para Games|2018 Jakarta]]|[[2018 Asian Para Games – Women's Javelin Throw#F53/54|Javelin Throw – F53-54]]}}

}}
'''Deepa Malik''' (born 30 September 1970) is an Indian para athlete from Haryana. She won a silver medal at the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]] in [[shot put]], becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in the [[Paralympic Games]].<ref name="first">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-37346780 |title=Deepa Malik: First Indian woman to win Paralympics medal |website=[[BBC News Online]] |language=en-GB |date=13 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913065550/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-37346780 |archive-date=13 September 2016 |url-status=live |access-date=21 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sportscafe.in/articles/sports/2016/sep/12/paralympics-2016-deepa-malik-wins-silver-medal-in-shot-put|title=Paralympics 2016 {{!}} Deepa Malik wins silver medal in shot put|date=2016-09-12|access-date=2016-09-14}}</ref>

In 2020, she was elected as President of the [[Paralympic Committee of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-02-01 |title=Deepa Malik elected Paralympic Committee of India president |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/deepa-malik-elected-paralympic-committee-of-india-president-6246515/ |access-date=2021-03-22 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Malik was born to Veena Nagpal and Bal Krishan Nagpal in 1970.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2016-09-18 |title=Gurgaon's daughter Deepa Malik gets rousing welcome |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/gurgaon/gurgaon-s-daughter-deepa-malik-gets-rousing-welcome/story-w7l3taSWYG6yiCJu40fxvM.html |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Her father was in the Indian Army. Her brother, Vikram Nagpal, is a brigadier in the Indian Army.<ref name=":0" /> Her elder daughter, Devika, is studying sports psychology.<ref name=":0" /> At 5, she was diagnosed with a spinal tumor for which she underwent three years of treatment. The treatment was successful but Malik required aggressive physiotherapy to recover.

In 1999 at age 29, Malik was again diagnosed with [[spinal tumor]]. She underwent three surgeries to successfully remove the tumor but the surgeries left her paralyzed from the waist down. Afterwards, she again underwent physiotherapy for six years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Deepa Malik elected Paralympic Committee of India president|url=https://abilitymagazine.com/deepa-malik/|access-date=2024-01-18|website=Ability Magazine|language=en}}</ref> After recovering, Malik began to develop an interest in sports. She became a swimmer and a biker, and soon afterwards swam across the [[Yamuna|River Yamuna]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-09-05 |title=Rio Paralympics: Meet Deepa Malik, athlete extraordinaire |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/rio-paralympics-meet-deepa-malik-athlete-extraordinaire/articleshow/54013329.cms |access-date=2024-01-18 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Sports career==
{{BLP sources section|date=January 2025}}
Malik started her sports career at the age of 30 in 2000. She qualified B level in javelin throw F53 category for [[2008 Summer Olympics]] at Beijing. In 2006, she came second in the FESPIC Games, Kuala Lumpur in S5 swimming backstroke category. In 2008, she represented India in the World Open Swimming Championship at Berlin and finished 10th in S5 swimming backstroke event. In 2009, she won a shot put bronze medal at IWAS World Games.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In January 2011, she won a silver medal at the IPC World Athletics Championship in Christchurch. At the same event, she qualified for the Commonwealth Games in shot put. In December 2011, she won two bronze medals with Asian records at the IWAS World Games at Sharjah. In April 2012, she won two gold medals at the first Malaysian Open Athletics Championship in Javelin and discus throw F53 category. In 2013, she qualified for the IPC World Athletics Championship at Lyon 2013 at the German Open Athletics Championship, Berlin 2013. In April 2014, she won a gold in the shot put F53-55 category at the IPC 2nd China Open Athletics Championship at Beijing. In 2015, she got a 5th place in the IPC Athletics World Championship, Doha, Qatar in shot put, diploma 5th position. In March 2016, she won a gold in javelin and silver in shot put at the IPC Oceania Asian Championship, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In 2018, she won a gold in the F-53/54 javelin event at the Para Athletic Grand Prix held in Dubai.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

=== Asian Para Games ===
She won the first medal by an Indian woman winning a bronze at Para-Asian Games at China in December 2010. She is the only Indian woman to win medals in three consecutive Asian Para Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2019 |title=Deepa Malik becomes first female para-athlete to win Khel Ratna |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/deepa-malik-becomes-first-female-para-athlete-to-win-khel-ratna/articleshow/70721047.cms |access-date=2021-03-22 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref>

In 2014, she won a silver medal at the [[Incheon]] Asian Para Games 2014 in the women's 53–54 javelin with a new Asian Record. She also qualified for the IPC World Athletics Championship to be held at Doha in October 2015.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

In 2018, she won two bronze medals in the Asian Para Games at Jakarta. She won a bronze in the F53/F54 category javelin throw and another bronze in F51/52/53 category discus throw.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

=== Paralympic Games ===
In the 2016 Summer Paralympics at Rio, she won a silver medal in shot put and became the first woman to win a Paralympic medal for India.<ref name="first" />

== Motorsports ==
Deepa Malik was one of the first persons to receive a license for an invalid (modified) rally vehicle,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mathew |first=Godwin |date=2021-08-14 |title=All you need to know about Deepa Malik - the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/sports/all-need-know-deepa-malik-first-indian-woman-win-medal-paralympics |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Deepa Malik Birthday Special: Inspiring story of India's first Paralympic Games medallist |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/deepa-malik-the-story-of-a-winner |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref> a case she consistently pursued for 19 months in Maharashtra. She is also the first physically challenged individual in the country to receive an official rally license from the [[Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India|Federation of Motor Sports Club of India]] (FMSCI) and become a navigator and driver in the toughest car rallies of the country- Raid-de-HIMALAYA 2009<ref>{{Cite web |last=PTI |date=2020-05-11 |title=I've retired from active sports, but not today: Deepa Malik |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/deepa-malik-announces-retirement-need-to-serve-para-sports/article31557787.ece |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}</ref> and Desert Storm 2010.

She undertook an 8-day, 1,700-km drive in sub-zero temperatures which included a climb to {{convert|18000|ft}} in the [[Raid De Himalaya]] event that went through remote [[Himalayas]], [[Leh]], [[Shimla]] and [[Jammu]].<ref>{{cite web |date=8 April 2012 |title=Deepa Malik [Biography] Swimmer, Biker of the world |url=http://www.matpal.com/2012/04/deepa-malik-biography-swimmerbiker-of.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714200555/http://www.matpal.com/2012/04/deepa-malik-biography-swimmerbiker-of.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date=14 July 2014 |work=MATPAL DEV |publisher=matpal.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=30 September 2013 |title=Deepa Malik's inspiring drive finally concludes in Delhi |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-cd/deepa-malik-s-inspiring-drive-finally-concludes-in-delhi-113093001017_1.html |access-date=14 July 2014 |work=CarDekho Team |publisher=business-standard.com |location=Jaipur}}</ref>

Malik participated in the grid and national anthem ceremony at the start of the 2013 [[Indian Grand Prix]] at the [[Buddh International Circuit]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bodapati |first=David |date=29 October 2021 |title=Women In Motorsports India inducts Deepa Malik |url=https://indiainf1.com/women-in-motorsports-india-inducts-deepa-malik/ |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=INDIAinF1.com}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Malik is married to Bikram Singh Malik, who proposed to her with a bike rather than a ring. They bonded over a mutual love of sports. "I had fallen in love with Bikram because he was a biker," said Malik of their relationship. Malik is a former colonel in the Indian Army. Together, they have two daughters.<ref>{{cite news|title=The extraordinary story of paralympian Deepa Malik, who won medals for India from her wheelchair|date=January 18, 2020|url=https://www.indianwomenblog.org/read-why-deepa-maliks-husband-proposed-her-with-a-bike-not-a-ring/| access-date=18 January 2024 |work=Scroll In|author1=Boria Majumdar |author2=Nalin Mehta}}</ref>

In 2003, while her husband was away on tour, she opened a restaurant in [[Ahmednagar]] where she employed underprivileged youths and took care that they return to their education. The restaurant continued operations until its closure in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Boria Majumdar & Nalin |date=2018-01-26 |title=Women who beat odds to shine: Gurugram's Deepa Malik among 100 winners of govt award|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/women-who-beat-odds-to-shine-gurgaons-deepa-malik-among-100-winners-of-govt-award/articleshow/62586263.cms |access-date=2024-01-18 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Awards and recognition ==
===National awards===
[[File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Deepa Malik, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 30, 2017.jpg|thumb|The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Deepa Malik, at a Civil Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 30, 2017]]
*President Role Model Award (2014)
*Arjuna Award in 2012 at the age of 42 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NYOOOZ - Simply News Local News, India News, City News, Politics |url=https://www.nyoooz.com/ |website=NYOOOZ}}</ref>
*Maharashtra Chhatrapati Award (sports) (2009–10)
*Haryana Karambhoomi Award (2008)
*Swawlamban Puruskar Maharashtra (2006)
*[[Padma Shri]] Award (2017)<ref name="padma awards">{{Cite web |last=Boria Majumdar |first=Nalin Mehta |date=January 2020 |title=Padma Awards 2017 announced |url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=157675 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
*First Ladies Award - Ministry of Women & Child Development.
*[[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] Award (2019)<ref name="khel awards">{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/khel-ratna-for-deepa-malik-and-bajrang-punia-arjuna-for-ravindra-jadeja/articleshow/70714206.cms|title=Khel Ratna for Deepa Malik and Bajrang Punia, Arjuna for Ravindra Jadeja - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=17 August 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=September 19, 2019|first=Akaash|last=Dasgupta|title=Deepa Malik: My father told me 'you are cursing the dark Deepa, become the lamp': Khel Ratna awardee Deepa Malik|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/others/my-father-told-me-you-are-cursing-the-dark-deepa-become-the-lamp-khel-ratna-awardee-deepa-malik/articleshow/71180252.cms|access-date=2021-03-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

===Other awards===
* The Wise Owl Literary Award 2026 (1st Runner Up)for her book ''Bring It On''.<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/DUzsrPqDFKM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==</ref>
*WCRC Leaders Asia Excellence Award 2014
*Limca people of the year award 2014
*{{proper name|iCONGO Karamveer Puruskar}} 2014
*Amazing Indian Awards Times Now-2013
*Cavinkare National Ability Mastery Award −2013
*Karamaveer Chakra award 2013
*Nominee for L'Oreal Femina Awards 2013 in “Women We Love Category”
*Batra Positive Health Hero Award 2012
*AWWA Excellence Award For Sports 2012
*Media Peace & Excellence Award For Sports 2012
*Maharana Mewar Arawali Sports Award 2012
*Misaal-e-Himmat Award (2012)
*International Women's day appreciation Award 2011 – Cancer Patient Aid Association New Delhi.
*Shree Shakti Puruskar CARE- 2011
*District Sports Award Ahmednagar-2010
*Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar 2009
*Naari Gaurav Puraskar 2009
*Guru Gobind Shaurya Puraskar 2009
*Rotary Women Of The Year Award 2007

;
; For the silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

* {{INRConvert|4|c}} from the [[Government of Haryana]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Deepa Malik becomes first Indian woman to win medal at Paralympics, bags silver in shotput|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/deepa-malik-becomes-first-indian-woman-to-win-medal-at-paralympics-wins-silver-in-shotput-3027788/|access-date=12 September 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=12 September 2016}}</ref>
* {{INRConvert|50|l}} from the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Rio Paralympic medallists to be given cash awards|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/rio-paralympic-medallists-to-be-given-cash-awards-116090600582_1.html|access-date=12 September 2016|work=Business Standard|date=6 September 2016}}</ref>

== Records and rankings ==
* Holds An Official IPC Asian Record In Javelin F-53 Category – Felicitated by Milkha Singh and P.T.Usha.
* Holds All Three National Records In Throws {Discus, Javelin, Shot-put} In F-53 Category
* Holds All Three National Records In S-1 Swimming Category {Back Stroke, Breast Stroke, Free Style }
* World Ranking 2010–12 – 2nd Shot-put, 3rd -Discus, 3rd Javelin
* Asian Ranking 2010–12 – 1st In All Three Throws
'''LIMCA World Records'''
* Longest Pan-India drive done by a paraplegic women. Chennai-Delhi 3278 km – 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sathyabama.ac.in/sitepagethree.php?firstref=100|title=Awards|website=www.sathyabama.ac.in|access-date=14 October 2019|archive-date=5 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191005042722/http://www.sathyabama.ac.in/sitepagethree.php?firstref=100|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Driving Across Nine High Altitude Passes in Nine Days on Leh-Ladakh Highest Motorable Roads. (First Woman in the world in her disability to attempt a journey like this – 2011)
* Riding Special Bike −2009
* Swimming in River Yamuna Against The Current For 1 km. Allahabad-2008

== Public appearances ==

* 11 October 2019, On the occasion of [[International Day of the Girl Child]], Deepa appeared on the popular Indian TV game show [[Kaun Banega Crorepati]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/movies/amjad-ali-khan-para-athletes-deepa-malik-manasi-joshi-celebrate-amitabh-bachchans-birthday-on-kbc-sets-2341779.html|title=Amjad Ali Khan, Para-athletes Deepa Malik, Manasi Joshi Celebrate Amitabh Bachchan's Birthday on KBC Sets|website=News18|date=11 October 2019|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref>

== Political career ==
Deepa Malik joined the [[BJP]] shortly before the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/elections/deepa-malik-first-indian-woman-athlete-to-win-paralympics-medal-joins-bjp/1526850/|title=Deepa Malik, first Indian woman athlete to win Paralympics medal, joins BJP|date=2019-03-25|website=The Financial Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-19}}</ref> She is a member of the working group in the formulation 12th five-year plan (2012–2017) on sports and physical education as nominated by the Planning Commission HRD Division on behalf of the Sports Ministry.

== See also ==
*[[Athletics at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Women's shot put (F32–34/52/53)]]
*[[2011 IPC Athletics World Championships – Women's discus throw]]
*[[Athletics at the 2010 Asian Para Games]]
*[[2011 IPC Athletics World Championships – Women's javelin throw]]
*[[2011 IPC Athletics World Championships – Women's shot put]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|d=Q17352184|n=Wikinews interviews India's first female Paralympic medalist Deepa Malik|wikt=no|s=no|q=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|c=no}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{Sports links}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714131244/http://www.readersdigest.co.in/how-deepa-malik-got-her-wheels-back How Deepa Malik Got Her Wheels Back] by Snigdha Hasan

{{Paralympic medalists for India}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}
{{Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malik, Deepa}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Paralympic silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Indian women javelin throwers]]
[[Category:Indian women shot putters]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:People from Sonipat district]]
[[Category:Sportswomen from Haryana]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:Athletes from Haryana]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Paralympic medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Paralympic athletes for India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Khel Ratna Award]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for India]]
[[Category:FESPIC Games competitors]]
[[Category:Wheelchair shot putters]]
[[Category:Wheelchair javelin throwers]]
[[Category:Paralympic shot putters]]
[[Category:Paralympic javelin throwers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the World Para Athletics Championships]]
[[Category:Asian Para Games medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2010 Asian Para Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Para Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2018 Asian Para Games]]
[[Category:Asian Para Games silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Asian Para Games bronze medalists for India]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian sportswomen]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2018 Asian Para Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2014 Asian Para Games]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2010 Asian Para Games]]

Deepa Malik - Revision history

AhmadFosbery49 at 22:39, 21 February 2026