Deepa Malik – 11 amazing facts you must know about India's extraordinary Paralympian

Deepa Malik won a silver medal in shot-put in Rio, which made her the first Indian woman to win a medal at Paralympics.

Deepa was detected with a tumour in her spinal cord at the age of six. Her recovery took three years.

Deepa is the wife of a veteran cavalier Colonel Bikram Singh and has two daughters - Devika and Ambika. Facebook/Deepa Malik

While her husband was in Kargil in 1999, her tumor relapsed and following her surgery, she was in coma for 25 days. The spinal tumor had to be operated and 31 surgeries were conducted on Deepa which was healed after 183 stitches between her waist and legs.Facebook/Deepa Malik

Being an avid traveller, Deepa is the first person ever to receive a license for invalid (modified) rally vehicle.Facebook/Deepa Malik

Deepa is also the first physically challenged person in India to receive an official rally license from Federation Motor Sports Club of India (FMSCI).Facebook/Deepa Malik

She joined the Himalayan Motorsports Association (H.M.A.) and Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (F.M.S.C.I.). She biked 1,700 km in eight days in sub-zero temperatures, sustaining herself in extreme climates with oxygen shortage at an altitude of 18,000 feet.Facebook/Deepa Malik

She has 54 national gold medals and 13 international medals in various sports including swimming, javelin throw and shot put.Twitter@Deepa Malik

She holds four LIMCA World Records, including one for swimming against the current in river Yamuna for one kilometre in 2008.Twiiter@Deepa Malik

At 45, she is the oldest Arjuna awardee to be active in sport.Twitter/Deepa Malik

Deepa won the Arjuna Award in 2012 for her performance in swimming.Twitter@Deepa Malik