I’ve retired from active sports: Deepa Malik

Says she submitted a letter to this effect in September last year

NEW DELHI, 25/03/2019: Deepa Malik she is the first Indian woman who win a medal in Paralympic Games and won a Silver medal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in the shot put, after joining BJP , at BJP Headquarter, in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma / The Hindu

Deepa Malik, the first Indian woman to claim a medal in the Paralympic Games, has retired from active sports, a decision she took before becoming the Paralympic Committee of India president earlier this year but revealed only on Monday.

The 49-year-old, who won a silver in shot put F53 category in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was elected PCI president in the elections held in February under the directives of Delhi High Court.

PCI has been denied recognition by the sports ministry.

“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.

“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.

Malik was bestowed the country’s highest sporting honour — the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna — last year.