Para-athlete Deepa malik announces retirement: Reports


Para-athlete Deepa malik announces retirement: Reports

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On Monday, Renowned para-athlete Deepa Malik has announced her retirement, in order to hold her post as the President of the Paralympic Committee of India.

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Deepa Malik has stated that today she has submitted her retirement letter as she needs to look at the bigger picture to promote the budding para-athletes in the country. However, the sportsperson will never die in her, she said that she might make a comeback around 2022 Asian Games if the country needs her to.

The athletes cannot hold an official post in any federation as per the National Sports Code, Malik said she is important for her to announce retirement and set a good example of following the rules and regulations.

She said, “I will be submitting my retirement letter later today. To avoid the conflict of interest, and with a heavy heart, I have to take the decision of retirement. If I have to apply for the affiliation of the government, I have to follow the government rules. I want to focus on my duties as the President of the PCI”.

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“I have to go by the rules that exist in India. However, if the call of forces come into play, then I might re-think my decision around 2022 Asian Games, I do not know if the sportsperson in me will ever go away, for now, I have to retire, if I have to pursue the post in PCI, then I have to follow the law,” she added.

The 49 years old, Deepa Malik is proud of herself for providing to give back to the sports and it’s important to follow the rules that have been put in place.

“I am making this decision with a heavy heart, but I have to take this call for the betterment, I am proud that I have chosen to give back to the sport, if you want the government affiliation, then you have to follow the rules and guidelines,” Malik said.

“International Paralympic Committee allows an official to participate, but it is in alignment with the national sports code, and my national sports code says that an active sportsperson cannot be an official or president in a sports federation, we are looking forward to getting affiliation from the government again, so we have to follow all guidelines, I have to be a true disciplinarian and have to abide by the rules,” she added.

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Deepa Malik was awarded Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna on August 29 last year and as a result, she became the first Indian woman para-athlete to be given this accolade. Deepa has also collaborated with the Sports Authority of India as a moderator to do the educational zoom session for para-athletes in the country.

She is the first Indian woman who the 58 nationals and 23 international medals which really feel proud to our nation.  She is also a recipient of the Arjuna & Padma Shri Award.

“I have had a sports journey of 15 years, it is time for me to now look beyond my own medals and try to shape up young talent,” she concluded.