The Paralympic Games bears witness to what people with immense dedication, courage and will power can achieve. Unlike their "physically" fitter counterparts, the Paralympic Games does not attract much attention but that does not deter these highly motivated yet physically challenged individuals to pursue their dreams. Throughout the Rio Games, we have witnessed a wide array of impressive performances from our athletes who have made the nation immensely proud by winning laurels in their respective events.

A few days back, it was Thangavelu Mariyappan and Varun Singh Bhati who made the nation proud, bagging gold and bronze, respectively, in the men's high jump event. On Monday, it was the turn of Deepa Malik to bring glory to the nation. She achieved her feat in the shot put event, bagging a silver to send India's medal tally to three with a medal apiece.

Back in 1999, a spinal tumour left Deepa paraplegic and wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life. But that did not stop her from achieving success and going down in record books as one of the finest female para-athletes having amassed a total of 59 national medals and 13 international medals in varying disciplines like swimming, javelin throw and shot put.

What makes her triumph all the more special is the fact that she is the first female Indian paralympian medallist and has achieved it at an age of 45 going on to prove that neither age nor physical disabilities can hinder a person's capabilities, it is just the willpower and the mental strength that carries dreams forward.

This kind of stellar performances by our athletes will prove to be a source of inspiration for billion others to follow their hearts and pursue their dreams with great zest, pride and focus and come to terms with the fact that impossible is nothing!