Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday held a special ceremony to felicidate Tokyo Paralympics silver medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu and his coach Raja B in New Delhi.
“Mariyyapan has made the country proud with his performance in Rio and now in Tokyo. I congratulate him and take this occasion to congratulate all our para athletes for their fantastic performance,” Thakur said in a statement.
Mariyappan, who won silver in the men’s high jump T42 event, said he was disappointed for not winning the gold medal, adding that he could have clinched top prize had the weather conditions been better.
“I had expected to win a gold for India but due to the weather conditions on the day of the event, I could not fulfil that dream. I am confident that in Paris I will win a gold for the country again,” Thangavelu said.
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The 26-year-old had earlier missed out on being India’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony as he came in close contact with a COVID-19 positive patient on his flight to Tokyo.
Thangavelu, who won his second Paralympics medal after clinching gold at the 2016 edition of the Games in Rio, bagged silver with a best jump of 1.86m at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday.
The Salem, Tamil Nadu-born Thangavelu returned to India to a grand reception at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Friday evening. Four other para athletes returned home yesterday, including javelin throw gold medallist Sumit Antil, Devendra Jhajharia, Sharad Kumar and Yogesh Kathuniya.
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Three-time Paralympic medallist javelin thrower Jhajharia bagged a silver this time, with Kathuniya won silver in discus throw. High jumper Sharad Kumar won the bronze medal in the T42 event with a season-best jump of 1.83m.
India has registered its best-ever performance at the Paralympics, winning an unprecedented 17 medals so far, including four gold, seven silver and six bronze medals.
