Mariyappan, Sharad win silver, bronze
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 trackand-field performance here 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. The T42 classification is for athletes with a leg deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired passive range of movement in the legs. The Indians stayed inside the top three for a majority of the competition and Mariyappan was in contention for a gold as well. Meanwhile,
Chief Minister MK Stalin announced a cash award of Rs 2 crore for his feat.
Family members and people of Periavadagampatti, a nondescript village near Omalur in Salem broke into celebration after Mariyappan Thangavelu won silver in Tokyo Paralympics high jump T42 event on Tuesday.
“My son has made us all proud by winning a medal for the nation once again,” said his proud mother Saroja to reporters. She was glued to the television along with other family members at their house to witness the feat of her son in the Paralympics.
Expectations ran high as Mariyappan Thangavelu won a gold medal in the high jump category in the 2016 Paralympic games held in Rio de Janeiro. “I was expecting him to win a gold medal. But, we are very happy and proud that he won a silver medal. I am confident that my son will achieve gold in the next Paralympic games,” said Saroja. Mariyappan Thangavelu, born as one of six children was raised by Saroja as a single mother by working as a daily wager and then a vegetable seller after his father reportedly abandoned the family in the early years.
At the age of five, he suffered permanent disability in his right leg when he was run over by a drunken bus driver. The bus crushed his leg below the knee, causing it to become stunted. He battled abject poverty while growing up to achieve this feat.
It turned out to be a moment to enjoy as the proud villagers and family members distributed sweets and fired crackers to celebrate the victory of Mariyappan in the Paralympics.