Padma Shri Deepa Malik asks wrestlers to not ‘play with emotions' after returning medals, says ‘They belong to our country'

Padma Shri Deepa Malik asks wrestlers to not ‘play with emotions’ after returning medals, says ‘They belong to our country’

Mandarmani: Former para-athlete, Padma Shri and Arjun award winner, Deepa Malik, slammed wrestlers for returning their medals in the wake of the WFI controversy. On Wednesday, January 24, Malik was bestowed with The Banyan Tree Calcutta Sports Journalists Club lifetime achievement award.

During the event, Malik slammed the national wrestlers and asked them to not ‘play with emotions’ by returning the medals’. She also backed the Indian athletes and para-athletes to perform well in the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics.

Malik inaugurated a sports museum inside Mandarmani’s Banyan Tree resort in Purba Medinipur, West Bengal. The Calcutta Sports Journalist Club (CSJC) also named Mehuli Ghosh as the best shooter of the year, and Sourav Kothari (world billiards champion) as the sportsperson of the year.

In the male category, Manoj Kothari, former billiards champion, got the Lifetime Achievement award. Indian pacer Mukesh Kumar got the cricketer of the year award (male) while Richa Ghosh got the best women’s cricketer of the year award.

Here are the excerpts of the exclusive interview of Deepa Malik with India Today:

Q. How does it feel to get The Banyan Tree Calcutta Sports Journalist Club Lifetime Achievement award as a para athlete?

Deepa Malik: It is necessary for the para-sports. I am highly thankful to the President of the Paralympic Committee of West Bengal. I also congratulate the state of West Bengal because they are giving sportsmen awards. It is a moment that validates your journey. I am also going to thank Narendra Modi for the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) scheme.

Q. How many medals do you expect from the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics?

Deepa Malik: You see the graph, it is going high. Our number of medals is growing. Our athletes are more confident and are preparing hard. They are doing well in the international circuit. Our players are doing well in most of the games. And the graph will grow higher and higher from the Olympics and Paralympics.

Q. What do you want to add to Indian athletics?

Deepa Malik: We are on the correct path. We are involving science in preparation and are also providing the latest equipment. The ecosystem is going up day by day. The population of our country is 140 crore. Many people have to give their precious time to sports.

India is densely populated, so we need to involve more people in different games. Even though there are many events, we need participation. Women have to play. We have to increase the number of participants. We have to combine education and sports programs.

Q. Anyone who you say is a favourite and can win medals in the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics?

Deepa Malik: Neeraj Chopra won gold, and in the Paralympics Sumit Antil won the gold medal. We have Rinku Hooda, Sundar Gujjar, who made the world record in javelin throw in his category. So, in para sports, there are immense talents.

Be it shooting, power-lifting or athletics, young talents are doing good. In the Asian para games in China, we got many new talents. And I am happy in the T-20 category our women won gold. Sports in India are growing and from the Paralympics, you will get much more good news.

Q. We have seen wrestlers giving back their medals. They want justice for them. How do you see this whole scenario as a para-athlete and medal winner?

Deepa Malik: I think the medal you won was for the country. The medal is not yours the medal belongs to 140 crore people of our country. It does not say that this medal belongs to Deepa. In the medal tally, it is clear that this is the medal that belongs to your country, India.

When you win it, the flag of our country flies high and the national anthem plays as well. And you cannot play with the emotions of the people of our country. You should always discuss, there are policies, there are laws, and there are committees and councils. You have to wait for that rather than disrespecting the medals which comes after lots of hard work.

Q. Elections are coming soon! Do you want to campaign for BJP as you are a fan of PM Modi?

Deepa Malik: BJP will win. Iss baar modi sarkar. The country is developing and it’s going high. I will stand by PM Modi. India has grown and we want to see our country higher and Indians will make the right choice.

Q. You have gone to Ayodhya! We have seen lots of controversies after the Pran Pratishtha of Ram mandir. Your take on this?

Deepa Malik: If we reclaim and celebrate our Sanskriti, our traditions, our history, our rich culture of Indian sentiments, then it is not politics.  This is a celebration of Indian culture and Indian heritage. Don’t mix the feelings, reverence, and effort of so many people who have come together to celebrate Indian history. Ram is the symbol of values that encourages us to be on the right path.

Watch Live TV in English

Watch Live TV in Hindi