News
Deepa Malik files nomination for president of Paralympic Committee
Khel Ratna award winner Deepa Malik has filed her nomination for the president of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
“It’s high time that athlete starts getting heard. Being an athlete I know what they go through and what they need. Yes, I have filed my nomination for the presidentship. I will bring an athlete perspective because till now I have been playing and representing my country. I have understood the emotional, physical, financial ups and downs an athlete goes through, especially when federation becomes unstable and then gets suspended by the government,” Malik told ANI.
The PCI will hold fresh elections this year for their new tenure after the sports ministry had suspended the committee for violating sports codes for not holding free and fair elections. The process of filing nominations has begun.
Deepa Malik had become the first woman para-athlete to win the top honours as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna
“Let me be very honest I am an educated person and I know what exactly an athlete needs so once the dust settles down and tenure begins and if I am entrusted with this duty I am going to give it my best. I will give an honest perspective for the athletes and I will ensure everything goes as per plan. I have pure intention to put my name, I do not know what the result would be but it’s just an effort to make a statement that athlete needs to be heard now,” Malik said.
Malik has sent her nomination for the president, while current interim president Gurcharan Singh has filed his papers for the post of Secretary-General.
The athlete, who has now joined BJP, further went on to reveal that the suspension has put an uncertain future over the Indian paralympians, which is enough hamper their morale.
“If the federation is suspended and the athletes are not even playing for India I think that becomes very crucial situation, it definitely hampers the morale of the athlete, the uncertainty that when will my entry go, will the government approve, will I get enough funding for myself to go and represent the country is all bad for the situation in the country. I think it is time to become a mainstream competitive sport and India is doing well, we have a lot of potential,” she added.
In August this year, Malik had become the first woman para-athlete to win the top honours as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna was conferred on her. She was co-awarded with Bajrang Punia.
