ANOTHER HIGH

Mariyappan, Sharad win silver and bronze in high jump

Tokyo, Aug. 31: Defending champion Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar won a silver and bronze respectively in the men’s high jump T42 event as India’s medal tally at the Paralympics touched an unprecedented 10, riding on a consistently stupendous track-and-field performance on Tuesday.

Mariyappan cleared

1.86m while American gold winner Sam Grewe succeeded in soaring above 1.88m in his third attempt. Kumar took the bronze with an effort of

1.83.

“I could have won gold and claimed the world record. I came here with that aim. But the rain played spoilsport. It was a drizzle initially but after the 1.80m mark, it became heavy. The sock on my other leg (the impaired right leg) got wet and it was difficult to jump,” Mariyappan said after the event.

The third Indian in fray and 2016 Rio Paralympics bronze-winner, Varun Singh Bhati ended seventh out of nine competitors after he failed to clear the 1.77m mark.

Kumar revealed he was considering pulling out of the competition due to a leg injury.

“I had an injury on my leg, meniscus dislocated (a type of knee injury) yesterday. I thought of pulling out today but spoke to my family back home. They said just go ahead,” he said.

The Indians stayed inside the top three for a majority of the competition and Mariyappan was in contention for a gold as well. Athletics has once again been the happy hunting ground with one gold, four silver and two bronze so far and some more expected. — PTI