EnglishCBSE Class 9 · The World of Limitless Possibilities

The World of Limitless Possibilities (Kaveri Unit 5): Dr Deepa Malik and Ability Beyond Disability

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The World of Limitless Possibilities introduces the Paralympic Games and then presents an interview with Dr Deepa Malik, who was paralysed waist down at 29 by a spine tumour. She chose to turn her life into a world of limitless possibilities and won silver in shot-put at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Her message is "ability beyond disability".

Understand The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability

The structure. The piece has two parts: a short introduction to the Paralympic Games and an interview. The introduction says that the Games celebrate the resilience and talent of athletes with locomotor, sensory or intellectual disabilities, and that they aim to quell stereotypes and redefine what is possible. India first took part in 1968 and won its first medal, in swimming, in 1972.

The setback and the choice. In the interview, Dr Malik says that at 29 she was diagnosed with a spine tumour. After surgery, doctors said she would be in a wheelchair for life, paralysed waist down. She saw two choices: to waste her life in regret or to turn it into a world of limitless possibilities. Having loved sports and swum before, she turned to para-athletics.

The achievement. Her breakthrough was the silver in shot-put at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, which she sees as a personal victory and a step towards changing perceptions. The interviewer calls her a trailblazer: the first Indian woman para-athlete to win an Asian Games medal in athletics and India's first woman Paralympic medallist in any sport. She holds the Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Padma Shri awards.

Challenges. Her biggest challenge was society's perception, since people underestimated her. She needed mental as well as physical strength, treated challenges as chances to prove herself and, with the support of her family and her own fortitude, turned obstacles into stepping stones.

Sport and stereotypes. She believes that sport, especially the Paralympics, breaks down preconceived notions, because people see the strength and competitive spirit of para-athletes.

Advocacy and advice. She works for the emotional health of persons with challenges, for the empowerment of women through outdoor and adventure sports, for people from poorer backgrounds, and for equipment for para sportspersons. She holds awareness sessions in schools and colleges because youth is "the voice of tomorrow". Her advice: every setback is an opportunity to prove your strength; build a support system, believe in yourself and inspire others.

Central idea. Disability does not limit potential. With resilience, support and self-belief, setbacks can become stepping stones.

The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability: key facts

Timeline: At 29 spine tumour
After surgery paralysed waist down
2016 silver in shot-put at Rio; From the interview.
Her firsts: First Indian woman para-athlete with an Asian Games athletics medal | First Indian woman Paralympic medallist in any sport; As called by the interviewer.
Her advice: Setbacks are chances
Build a support system
Believe in yourself
Inspire others; Use in a message answer.
Themes: Resilience
Ability beyond disability
Challenging stereotypes
Inclusion; Choose two with proof.

At 29	spine tumour
After surgery	paralysed waist down
2016	silver in shot-put at Rio

How to answer The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability questions

Use this for interview-based questions.

1State the setback and the choice she made.
2Give the achievement with the year and place.
3Mention the challenge of society's perception.
4Quote her message.
5Link to resilience and inclusion.

The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Stepping stones

Suppose a student injures her leg before the school sports day and cannot run. Instead of giving up, she trains as the team's scorer and coach, and her team wins.

Which idea from the interview does this show? Answer in 2 lines.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

A setback in her plan.
She finds another way to contribute.

Answer: It shows turning obstacles into stepping stones: a setback becomes an opportunity to prove strength in a new way.

Memory hook: Setback, then stepping stone.

Tricks to remember The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

29-2016
Age 29 at diagnosis; silver in 2016.
Use it when: Key numbers.
A-B-D
Ability Beyond Disability.
Use it when: The slogan.
S-S-B-I
Support system, Self-belief, Inspire others.
Use it when: Her advice.

The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Medal · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

Dr Deepa Malik won which medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics?
(a) gold in swimming (b) silver in shot-put (c) bronze in javelin (d) silver in discus

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The text states silver in shot-put.

Answer: (b) silver in shot-put

Example 2: Two choices · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

What two choices did Dr Malik see after her paralysis? Answer in 40-50 words.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Waste life in regret (1).
Turn it into limitless possibilities (1).

Answer: Dr Malik saw that she could either waste her life in regret or transform it into a world of limitless possibilities. She chose the second path. Because she had loved sports and had swum before, she turned to para-athletics and began a new life.

Example 3: Perception · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

Why was society's perception her biggest challenge? Answer in 40-50 words.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

People underestimated her (1).
Stereotypes limit opportunity (1).
She had to prove herself (1).

Answer: People underestimated her because of her disability. Such stereotypes can limit opportunities and weaken confidence. Dr Malik had to prove herself again and again, using mental strength as well as physical strength, and she treated each challenge as a chance to show what she could do.

Example 4: Ability beyond disability · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

How does Dr Malik's own life show that physical limitations do not define potential? Answer in 40-50 words.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

Her limitation (1).
Her achievements (1).
Conclusion (1).

Answer: Dr Malik was paralysed waist down at 29, yet she became a Paralympic silver medallist in shot-put and an awardee of the Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Padma Shri. Her life shows that a limitation does not set the limit of a person's potential, if resilience, support and self-belief are present.

Example 5: Role of sport · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

"Sport can change how society sees people." How does the text support this? Answer in 100-120 words.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

The Paralympics introduction (2).
Dr Malik's view (2).
Her advocacy (1).
Expression (1).

Answer: The introduction says that the Paralympics celebrate the resilience and talent of athletes and aim to quell stereotypes and redefine what is possible. Dr Malik supports this when she says that sport breaks down preconceived notions, because people see the strength and competitive spirit of para-athletes. Her own silver in shot-put at Rio changed perceptions and made her India's first woman Paralympic medallist. She also uses sport to empower women through outdoor and adventure activities and provides equipment to para sportspersons. Her example shows that setbacks can become stepping stones. In this way, sport becomes a stage on which abilities, and not disabilities, are seen.

Where students lose marks in The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

Mistake: Wrong medal or year
Facts must be exact.
Wrong working
Gold in 2012.
Right working
Silver in shot-put in 2016.
Do this: Learn 29 and 2016.
Usually costs: 1 mark
Mistake: Writing pity instead of respect
The tone is of strength.
Wrong working
Dr Malik is a sad person.
Right working
Dr Malik turned a setback into strength.
Do this: Use words such as resilience.
Usually costs: 1 mark
Mistake: Not using the interview form
The text is an interview.
Wrong working
The author narrates her life.
Right working
Dr Malik answers an interviewer.
Do this: Say "in the interview".
Usually costs: 1 mark
Mistake: Missing inclusion
A key theme.
Wrong working
Only her medals.
Right working
Also her advocacy for inclusion and equipment.
Do this: Mention advocacy.
Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks

Exam tips

Quote the two choices after her paralysis.
Give 29, 2016 and silver in shot-put exactly.
Mention the first-woman-Paralympic-medallist claim as the interviewer's statement.
Use the phrase ability beyond disability with meaning.
End with resilience and inclusion.

Practice questions on The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level
Dr Malik says the voice of tomorrow is
(a) the government (b) the elderly (c) youth (d) doctors
Hint
She holds awareness sessions in schools and colleges.
Answer
(c) youth
Q2 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level
Why does Dr Malik hold awareness sessions in schools and colleges? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Think of the voice of tomorrow.
Answer
She believes youth is the voice of tomorrow. By speaking to young people in schools and colleges, she hopes to change attitudes towards disability early, so that the next generation grows up with respect, empathy and inclusion, and learns to see ability before disability.
Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
How did her family and her own strength help Dr Malik? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Think of stepping stones.
Answer
With the support of her family and her own fortitude, she turned obstacles into stepping stones. Her family gave her emotional help, and her inner strength helped her to continue training and to treat each challenge as a chance to prove herself.
Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level
What does the information about India's Paralympic history add to the text? Answer in 40-50 words.
Hint
Think of 1968 and 1972.
Answer
The introduction says that India first took part in 1968 and won its first medal, in swimming, in 1972. This adds historical depth and shows that Indian para-athletes have a long record. It also puts Dr Malik's achievement in a larger story of progress.
Q5 · 6 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency
Suppose you have to introduce Dr Malik to your school assembly in 100-120 words. Write the introduction.
Hint
Use her setback, achievement and message.
Answer
Good morning. Today I introduce Dr Deepa Malik, a person who proves that ability goes beyond disability. At 29 she was diagnosed with a spine tumour and was paralysed waist down. She refused to waste her life in regret and turned to sport. In 2016 she won silver in shot-put at the Rio Paralympics, and she became India's first woman Paralympic medallist. She holds the Khel Ratna, Arjuna and Padma Shri awards. She also works for inclusion and encourages youth to build support systems and believe in themselves. She works for the emotional health of persons with challenges. Her advice is that every setback is an opportunity to prove your strength. Please welcome a true inspiration.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1.Who is interviewed?Show answer
Dr Deepa Malik.
2.What happened at 29?Show answer
A spine tumour left her paralysed waist down.
3.Which Games did she win silver at?Show answer
2016 Rio Paralympics.
4.Which event?Show answer
Shot-put.
5.What is her slogan?Show answer
Ability beyond disability.
6.Which poem is paired with this piece?Show answer
Nine Gold Medals.

The World of Limitless Possibilities: Dr Deepa Malik's Journey and Ability Beyond Disability: frequently asked questions

What is the main message?

Setbacks can become stepping stones; disability does not limit potential.

What type of text is it?

A non-fiction piece with an introduction and an interview.

What does she say about stereotypes?

Sport breaks them down because people see para-athletes' strength.

What does she advise?

Build a support system, believe in yourself and inspire others.