India’s other medal prospect Sharad Kumar finished at number six. The silver medal in this event went to USA’s Sam Grewe who also registered the same mark of 1.86 metres.
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From then on, it has been a gritty task for Thangavelu – undergoing rigorous training and relentlessly pursuing victory, which eventually saw him winning medals at both national and worldwide events.
When he was growing up, he was more interested in volleyball, and it was his physical education instructor who saw his talent in high jump.
The Central government of India had announced Rs 75 lakh to be presented to Mariyappan where the same Central government presented almost thrice that to P V Sindhu who had won silver at the Rio Olympics.
Thangavelu made history by becoming the first Indian high-jumper to win a gold at the Paralympics, with a leap of 1.89 metres. “Sundar Singh Gurjar has a chance to win gold while Jhajharia looks set for a medal”.
President of India, Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated both the athletes for their medal winning performances.
The T-42 classification is for athletes with lower limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement.
India had claimed a Gold and a Bronze at Athens in 2004.
Mariyappan Thangavelu’s high jump gold at the Paralympics is stunning, inspiring and humbling.
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Mariyappan, who cleared 1.78m in a Grand Prix in March this year to qualify for the Paralympics, had been confident of winning gold in Rio.
