Deepa Malik hangs up boots, to head Paralympic Committee

Deepa Malik, India’s only woman Paralympics Games silver medallist, announced announced her retirement from active sports and would now serve as the president of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) in accordance with the National Sports Code.  

“Who said I announced my retirement today? I have already retired in September last year before filing my nomination paper, though I did not make a public announcement,” Malik said. According to the National Sports Code, an active sportsperson is not eligible to hold an official post in any federation, and Malik revealed that she had taken the decision to retire earlier this year itself. 

Malik was elected PCI president in the elections held in February under the directives of Delhi High Court. “I submitted my letter of retirement to the PCI in September last year when the election process began. Only after that I was able to stand for PCI president’s post and I won the election and became president,” she said. “I have to go by the rules that exist in India.

However, if the call of forces come into play, then I might rethink my decision around 2022 Asian Games,” said the 49-year-old who had won a silver in shot put F53 category in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, “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. In any case, I will continue to serve the sport” she concluded.