They say a woman can do anything! Yes, from glorifying in different fields to taking the country to the international level, they are doing everything. Even when life hits them hard, they do not back off!
On the occasion of National Sports Day, here’s a tribute and a sincere thank you to some of those path-breaking female para-athlete champions who have glorified India in the world of para-sports.
Deepa Malik
An international para-athlete from Haryana, Deepa was diagnosed with a spinal tumour in 1999. She went through three surgeries and with 183 stitches in her shoulder blades for 14 years, Deepa was left paralysed from the waist down.
She became the first Indian woman to win a medal in the Paralympic Games in 2016. An Arjuna awardee, she is currently the world number one in the F-53 category and the only Indian female para-athlete to win medals in three consecutive Asian Para Games (2010, 2014, 2018).
Participation & Achievements
- National and State level medals – 51 Gold, 5 Silver, 2 Bronze
- International medals – 23
- 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]
- President Role Model Award
- Arjuna Award
- Haryana Karambhoomi Award
- Padmashri Award
- Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award
- Karamaveer Chakra award
Karamjyoti Dalal
An international para-athlete from Haryana, Karamjyoti fell from the terrace, which affected her motor sensation.
Currently a coach at Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Haryana, she was a kabaddi player before her accident.
Participation & Achievements
- Two Bronze medals at Asian Games, 2014
- Ranked as world no. 8 at Asian Games 2014
- Bronze Medal at World Para-Athletic Championship, 2014
- Gold Medal at Fazaa Grand Prix, 2017
Manasi Joshi
An international para-badminton player from Mumbai, Manasi lost her leg in an accident in 2011.
A software engineer based out of Gujarat, she created history by clinching gold at the BWF Para-Badminton World Championships in 2019.
Participation & Achievements Asian Para Games, 2018
- Silver medal at BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, 2015
- Bronze medal at BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, 2017
- Bronze medal at Asian Para-Badminton Championship, 2016
- Bronze medal at Para-Badminton International Women’s singles, 2018
- Bronze medal at Asian Para Games, 2018
- Gold medal at BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, 2019
Ekta Bhyan
An international para-athlete from Haryana, Ekta met with a road accident damaging her spinal cord in 2003.
She made a record by winning gold at the Asian Para Games in 2018. She also earned one gold and one bronze at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix, 2019.
Participation & Achievements
- Silver medal at IPC Grand Prix, 2016
- Gold medal at National Para Athletics Championships, 2016
- Two Gold medals at National Para Athletics Championships, 2017
- Gold medal at Asian Para Games, 2018
- Gold medal at IPC Grand Prix, 2018
- Bronze medal at IPC Grand Prix, 2018
- Two Gold medals at National Para Athletics Championships, 2018
- Bronze medal at National Para Athletics Championships, 2018
- National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2018
- State Award by Honourable Governor of Haryana, 2018
- ESPN Athlete of the Year (Para Athlete), 2018
Jennitha Anto
A Woman International Master from Tamil Nadu, Jennitha caught polio at age three.
She is a six-time champion of the World Chess Championship for the Physically Disabled conducted by IPCA, consecutively from 2013 to 2017 & 2019.
Participation & Achievements
- Gold medal at Asian Para Games, 2018
- Two Silver medals at Asian Para Games, 2018
- Bronze medal at Asian Para Games, 2018
Parul Parmar
An international para-badminton player from Gujarat, Parul was afflicted by Poliomyelitis at a young age.
She is a three-time world champion, ranked world number one in para-badminton women’s singles SL3 and was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2009 by the Government of India and Eklavya Award by the Government of Gujarat.
Participation & Achievements
- Bronze medal at Asian Para Games, 2010
- Silver medal at Asian Para Games, 2014
- Gold medal at Asian Para Games, 2014
- Gold medal at BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, 2015
- Gold medal at BWF Para-Badminton World Championships, 2015
- Gold medal at Asian Para Games, 2018
- Gold medal at Para-Badminton International Women’s singles, 2018
August 29 is observed as the National Sports Day in India in the memory of Major Dhyan Chand, the renowned hockey player who won gold medals in Olympics for India.
