<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/14deepa-malik.jpg" alt="" /> Deepa Malik with a copy of this newspaper after her story was published in 2006
Deepa on Monday created history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Paralympics. She bagged silver in the shot put F-53 event with a best throw of 4.61m at the Rio Games.
After reading that report, where the feisty Deepa claimed that she wanted to ride a bike to promote her message that the disabled can do almost anything they wish to and needed funds for a customised bike, Deepa received a call from Vijay Mallya&rsquo;s office almost immediately.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/deepa-malik-paralympic-medal-sports-authority-of-indi-sports-ministry/17609193" target="_blank">I dared to dream and worked hard: Deepa Malik</a>
The tycoon, who is in a ton of trouble currently, sponsored a customised quad (with four wheels) motorbike for Deepa.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/14deepa-malik-ride.jpg" alt="" /> Deepa on the customised quad bike sponsored by Vijay Mallya after reading mid-day&rsquo;s report
&ldquo;I got a telephone call from his office the day after the piece was printed and was asked if I could meet him,&rdquo; she said then. Deepa went to the Kingfisher First Anniversary party at a city five-star hotel, where she met Mallya. After that meeting Deepa was in touch with United Spirits (Mallya&rsquo;s company) Vice-President Marketing, Alok Gupta. She contacted Kaulsons, bike manufacturers in New Delhi and they started work on a customised, quad bike for Deepa. &ldquo;The bike and other expenses cost Rs 3 lakh,&rdquo; said Deepa.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mid-day.com/articles/haryana-to-give-cash-award-of-rs-4-crore-to-deepa-malik/17611176" target="_blank">Haryana to give cash award of Rs 4 crore to Deepa Malik</a>
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/sep/14deepa-malik-shot-put.jpg" alt="" /> India&rsquo;s Deepa Malik competes during the women&rsquo;s F-53 shot put final event in Rio de Janeiro onMonday. PIC/AP
Here are excerpts of Deepa&rsquo;s June 2006 interview at this newspaper&rsquo;s office.
&gt;&gt; Deepa Malik is the wife of an army man Colonel Bikram Singh Malik and mother of two girls, Devika and Ambika.
&gt;&gt; She lives in Ahmednagar (120 km from Pune).
&gt;&gt; She had said in her interview to this paper in 2006. &ldquo;I should have been a politician, I take my chair everywhere with me.&rdquo; (By that statement she meant her wheelchair!)
&gt;&gt; Deepa had a tumour diagnosed in her spinal cord in 1977. She was born in 1970. It was surgically removed, after which she had said, &ldquo;I crawled and literally learnt to walk again.&rdquo;
&gt;&gt; She graduated from Sophia College, Ajmer, and was always an outstanding basketball player and cricketer.
&gt;&gt; After her two daughters were born, she was diagnosed with an Arachnoid&rsquo;s Cyst in the spinal cord. In 1999, Deepa was told that she had five days to celebrate walking. She knew after this surgery, she would become a paraplegic. Deepa underwent an 11-hour surgery, the cyst was removed but her life on her legs had ended.
&gt;&gt; She could not walk but did not use a wheelchair. Her husband tied wires around the house. They put in handles like they use in BEST buses. Deepa used to drag herself around the house holding them. Her sister-in-law told her that &ldquo;I have weak eyes, I use spectacles. You have weak legs. Why don&rsquo;t you sit in a chair?&rdquo; That is the day Deepa started using a wheelchair.
&gt;&gt; At that time, Deepa had her own restaurant called &lsquo;Dees Place&rsquo;, in Ahmednagar, she had said that the disabled do not want reservations, they just want opportunities like a wheelchair-friendly world.

mid-day recalls an interaction with Rio Paralympics 2016 silver medallist Deepa Malik when she visited our office in 2006; back in 1999 Deepa was told that she had just 5 days of walking left

When Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik visited mid-day in 2006

Devendra Jhajharia's 'deal' with daughter inspired him to Paralympic gold

mid-day recalls an interaction with Rio Paralympics 2016 silver medallist Deepa Malik when she visited our office in 2006; back in 1999 Deepa was told that she had just 5 days of walking left

When Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik visited mid-day in 2006

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Home / Sports / Other Sports / Article / When Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik visited mid-day in 2006

When Paralympics silver medallist Deepa Malik visited mid-day in 2006

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