I did not have chapatis & mithai for four months: Paralympian Deepa Malik

Para-athletes have to be very particular about their nutrition. And their dietary needs can be complex depending on their physical condition.

Deepa Malik is a case in point. The shot putter, who won a silver medal at the Rio Games, was detected with a spinal tumour 17 years ago. She is paralysed waist down and has undergone 31 surgeries. On Monday in Mumbai, after a fundraiser for para-athletes led by Sachin Tendulkar, Malik spoke with candour about her health and diet restrictions. “I cannot process a number of foods due to my health. At 46, there are also some menopausal factors I have to be mindful of,” she said.


Paralympic medallists Devendra Jhajharia, Mariyappan Thangavelu, Deepa Malik and Varun Singh Bhati with Sachin Tendulkar at a felicitation ceremony in Mumbai (Image: PTI)

Asked what was the hardest thing to give up, the mother of two replied, “I did not have chapatis and mithai for four months. And for a jat to give up mithai is very hard.”.