The National Centre for Diyvang Empowerment (NCDE) has been created at the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters in Hyderabad.

Considered the first institution of its kind in the country, the centre bids to train and rehabilitate soldiers who have sustained severe injuries in the line of duty.

According to The Hindu, almost 200 personnel within India’s armed forces lost their limbs or underwent amputation in the past decade.

The PCI considers the NCDE as a National Centre for Excellence for Paralympic Sports, and soldiers will have the chance to train in Para-sports including archery, badminton and swimming.

"I am delighted to welcome our brave soldiers to the PCI fold," said Malik, an silver medallist in F53 shot put at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

"The first time I visited the CRPF centre was for a motivation lecture for the specially-abled soldiers after my Rio 2016 medal.

"That’s when the appeal was made to start a Divyang centre to empower the war-wounded soldier.

"Four years later, I am so happy that finally a beautiful international standard Para-sports centre has been inaugurated.

"It is also a centre where the soldiers will be taught IT and made experts in cyber-crime, artificial intelligence, and, alongside, they will also be playing sports."

Malik attended the inauguration along with two-time Para-badminton world champion Parul Parmar and Kishan Reddy, Minister of State for Home Affairs for the Indian Government.

"It’s a beautiful setup, 80 kilometres away from the city, well-equipped and open green space," said Malik.

"It’s a world standard sports facility set-up for a variety of sports like archery, badminton, swimming and basketball.

"They have ramps with the correct gradient, sliding doors, customised bathrooms and adjustable beds with universal accessibility.

"The most amazing thing is that the centre will not just serve the specially-abled soldiers but open to all."

Several champions have emerged from the Indian army including Para-sprinter Subedar Anandan Gunasekaran and Para-discus thrower Havaldar Aneesh Kumar who brought home medals from the 2018 Asian Para Games.

The pair were treated at the Artificial Limb Centre in Pune and trained at the Army Sports Institute.

"This is a great initiative by CRPF to empower our soldiers and respect them for their sacrifices," added Parmar.

"I hope to see many Para sport champions from this centre winning medals for India."