India opened its medal tally with a Gold at the Rio Paralympics after Mariyappan Thangavelu clinched first place in Men’s High Jump T42 event.  Compatriot Varun Singh Bhati clinched a Bronze at the same event holding high India’s flag and hopes at the Paralympics.  Thangavelu’s Gold saw him achieve 1.89meter while Bhati managed 1.86meters.

What is T42

It is a classification for disability at the Paralympics for differently-abled track and field athletics.  It means a single “above the knee amputation” or a comparable diasbility.

As per reports, Thangavelu belongs to a hamlet in Tamil Nadu and was left  permanently disabled when a bus ran over his right leg at the age of 5 years, crushing his knee.  It was in March this year at the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Grand Prix in Tunisia, where, with an effort of 1.78m he clinched ‘A’ qualification standard of 1.60m for the Paralympics.

Hats off Champion!!

Source: Hindustan Times/ NDTV Sports