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Mariyappan Thangavelu had to be satisfied with a silver medal as American Sam Grewe outjumped him in the Men’s High Jump T63 at the Olympic Stadium here. Mariyappan had won the gold medal in Rio Paralympics in 2016, cleared 1.86m, and was looking good for a gold medal when Grewe took a chance at 1.88 and cleared it. Mariyappan, whose leg was crushed by a vehicle when he was on his way to school in his village in Salem district of Tamil Nadu, went for 1.88 but could not clear it in the three attempts that he got.

Mariyappan Thangavelu wins SILVER Medal in the Men's High Jump T63 Tokyo Paralympics 2021

“Just as at Rio 2016, India has two athletes in the podium places in Men's High Jump T63 Final! Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar have won #silver and #bronze medals respectively, taking Flag of India's medal tally into double figures,” #Tokyo2020 for India tweeted on Tuesday. Mariyappan Thangavelu, the 26-year-old Tamil Nadu native, was conferred with the Khel Ratna, the country’s highest sporting award, in 2020. The 26-year-old was touted to be a sure shot medalist for India after rising to fame after his gold medal victory in the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

Mariyappan, who hails from Salem, suffered permanent disability in his right leg after he came under a bus when he was only five years old. Raised by a single mother after his father abandoned them, Mariyappan battled poverty while growing up. His mother worked as a labourer before becoming a vegetable seller. He had also worked as a newspaper hawker to support his family and sustain his sporting dreams when he started his career.

Indian paralympic high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu  won silver by clearing 1.86 metres,  Sharad Kumar, who hails from Patna, clinched the bronze with an effort of 1.83 metres. Both para-athletes recorded their season-best jumps. Sam Grewe, the gold winner from the United States of America, succeeded in soaring above 1.88m in his third attempt.

Mariyappan Thangavelu had won the 2016 Rio Paralympics T-42 high jump gold by clearing 1.89m. He qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics 2020 after finishing third in the T-42 high jump event at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.
 

Our Paralympians continue to make us proud! India is delighted by the success of Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar for winning silver and bronze medals respectively in men's high jump at #Paralympics. Your resolve and perseverance are an inspiration for all. Congratulations!

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 31, 2021

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. @189thangavelu #Paralympics #Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/GGhtAgM7vU

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 31, 2021

Two more medals added to our kitty. Congratulations on your second #Paralympics medal, @189thangavelu. And, @sharad_kumar01, your dream finally comes true. So proud of the dedication, consistency and strong desire to achieve, displayed by our athletes!#Praise4Para pic.twitter.com/uppCvh1E9K

— Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) August 31, 2021