Tokyo: India’s Mariyappan Thangavelu won the silver medal while Sharad Kumar brought home the bronze in men’s high jump (T63) at the Tokyo Paralympics on Tuesday.
Mariyappan cleared 1.86m while the American gold winner Sam Grewe succeeded in soaring above 1.88m in his third attempt. Sharad Kumar took the bronze with an effort of 1.83.
Mariyappan suffered permanent disability in his right leg after it was crushed under a bus when he was only 5.
Raised by a single mother after his father abandoned the family, Mariyappan battled abject poverty growing up as his mother worked a labourer before becoming a vegetable seller.
Congratulating Mariyappan, Prime Minister Modi tweeted, ‘Soaring higher and higher! Mariyappan Thangavelu is synonymous with consistence and excellence. Congratulations to him for winning the Silver Medal. India is proud of his feat.’
This is his 2nd consecutive #Paralympics medal, historic in so many ways! Well Played Champion!