Paralympics: High-jumper Mariyappan wins silver, Sharad Kumar bags bronze
(PTI desk)
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 on Tuesday. Mariyappan cleared 1.86m while the American gold winner Sam Grewe succeeded in soaring above 1.88m in his third attempt. Kumar took the bronze with an effort of 1.83m.
Varun Singh Bhati ended seventh
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. 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 athletes compete in a standing position.
Mariyappan was touted as a sure-shot medal
Earlier in the day, shooter Singhraj Adhana fetched a bronze in the men's 10m air pistol SH1 event. India have so far won two gold, five silver, and three bronze medals. The 26-year-old Mariyappan was touted as a sure-shot medal for India after rising to fame with his gold in the Rio Games five years ago.
Mariyappan's right leg was crushed under bus at age 5
The Tamil Nadu athlete suffered a 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 laborer before becoming a vegetable seller.
Sharad Kumar is a two-time Asian Para Games gold-medalist
Kumar, who hails from Patna, Bihar, suffered paralysis in his left leg as a two-year-old after being administered a spurious polio vaccine. He is a two-time Asian Para Games gold-medalist.
