Ability beyond disability

A trailblazer (someone who goes first and opens a path). Dr Malik became India's first woman para-athlete to win an Asian Games athletics medal, and its first woman Paralympic medallist in any sport.

What her awards mean to her: proof that physical limits do not decide what a person can achieve: 'ability beyond disability'. Look at what someone can do, not what they can't.

Her biggest challenge was not her body but society's view. People underestimated her. Mental resilience, her family's support and her fortitude (courage in hard times) helped her turn obstacles into stepping stones: stones you jump across, one at a time, to reach the other side.

What the Paralympics did. When people see the strength and skill of para-athletes, their preconceived notions (ideas formed before knowing the facts) break down. The Paralympics gave her 'a new lease of life' and helped her push her boundaries.

Her work today:

• caring for the emotional health of persons with disabilities;
• empowering women through outdoor sports and adventure;
• giving equipment to para-athletes from poorer families;
• running awareness sessions in schools and colleges, because young people will shape tomorrow.

Her advice: treat each setback as a chance to show how strong you are; keep people who support you close; believe in yourself; and let your story encourage others.