Honour for Devika

Devika Malik, a multiple medal winners in para-athletics and co-founder of Wheeling Happiness foundation, has been selected as one of the winners of the Queen’s Young Leaders award.

The 24-year-old Devika said that her initiative to work towards providing facilities and infrastructure, which still is insensitive to the needs of the people with special abilities, requires more effort and awareness.

“We started (the foundation) in second half of 2014 and are working towards bridging the gap of infrastructure and also organising events and other programmes like bike rides that raise awareness and also provide a medium to the people where they can learn and realise their potential,” Devika told Deccan Herald.

The ceremony that will take place in Buckingham Palace on June 22 will award 60 winners across 53 Commonwealth nations and will be presided over by the Queen.The focus of the award is to recognise talented young people who have proved to be inspiring leaders in their communities. “By recognising the young achievers, the organisers want to inspire youth,” said Devika.

Besides three gold medals at the National Paralympic Games in 2013 and clinching two gold medals at the National Paralympic Games in 2012, she also won a silver medal at the National Paralympic Games in 2010. Further, she won at the 2014 IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Tunisia and also a silver medal at the National Paralympic Games 2015 in athletics.