Deepa Malik picked up India's third medal at the ongoing Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, winning silver in the women's shot put F53 event on Monday. She will receive a cash award of Rs 4 crore under the Haryana Sports Scheme for her feat.
Deepa's best throw of 4.61m from her six attempts was her personal highest, and could only be improved upon by Fatema Nedham of Bahrain, who threw 4.76m. Dimitra Korokida of Greece won bronze with her season's best effort of 4.28m.
Deepa, at 45, is the oldest member of India's contingent, and has now become the first Indian female Paralympian to win a medal at the Games. She is also the current Asian record holder in the javelin throw, and won silver in the shot put and discus throw events at the 2011 World Championships.
"I want to use this medal to support women with disabilities in India. This journey has been wonderful for me and my entire family, I am proud to be the oldest athlete in the team and win a medal," Deepa told IANS.
Deepa, a mother of two and wife of an Army officer, is a paraplegic, paralysed from the waist down as a result of a spinal tumour. The spinal tumour had to be operated and 31 surgeries were conducted on Deepa, who has 183 stitches between her waist and legs.
This is India's first silver at these Games after the gold and bronze picked up by Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Singh Bhati.
In other results, Virender Dhankar finished 9th in the F 57 category in the Javelin throw with a throw of 35.73m.