PTI
RIO DE JANEIRO
Mariyappan Thangavelu became only the third Indian ever to clinch a Paralympic gold, while Varun Bhati secured a bronze as the duo scripted history for the country in the men's T42 high jump event of the ongoing Rio Games here.
The 21-year-old Thangavelu, who was merely five-years-old when his right leg was crushed by a speeding bus while he was on his way to school, joined Murlikant Petkar (1972, swimming) and Devendra Jhajharia (2004, javelin throw) in the Indian Paralympics gold club. Thangavelu won the yellow metal with his best jump of 1.89m, leaving behind world champion Sam Grewe of the Usawho who registered 1.86m. Bhati's best effort was also 1.86m but he had to settle for the bronze medal on count-back, making it the first instance of two Indians finishing on the podium in the same event of a Paralympic Games.
The T-42 classification is for athletes with lower limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement. In the same event, there was disappointment for another Indian athlete Sharad Kumar who failed to finish on the podium. Kumar had led the pack at one stage after clearing 1.55m and 1.60m but his best jump was only 1.77m which placed him at the sixth position overall.
The event witnessed massive competition as six out of the 12 para athletes cleared the 1.74m mark in their first eight attempts. In his 10th attempt, Thangavelu jumped 1.77m successfully, along with three others - Poland's Lukasz Mamczarz, China's Zhiqiang Zhing and country-mate Kumar.
In the later stages with the contest being reduced to only three competitors, Bhati set the tone with a jump of 1.83m mark along with Thagavelu. However, just when it looked like India would fetch a gold and a silver, the American cleared 1.86m to grab the top spot but the Indians also equalled the height to make it even. Eventually, in a nail-biting finale, Thangavelu grabbed the top honours by finishing with a jump of 1.89m.
In other events, Sandeep and Narender Ranbir finished 4th and 6th respectively in F-42 Javelin Throw competition with personal best throws of 54.30m and 53.79m.
India's previous Paralympic medallists
GOLD
* Murlikant Petkar, 50m freestyle 3, 1972 Heidelberg
* Devendra Jhajharia, javelin throw F44/46, 2004 Athens
SILVER
* Bhimrao Kesarkar, javelin throw, L6, 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York
* Joginder Singh Bedi, shot put L6, 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York
* Girisha Nagarajegowda, high jump F42, 2012 London
BRONZE
* Joginder Singh Bedi, discus throw L6, 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York
* Joginder Singh Bedi, javelin throw L6, 1984 Stoke Mandeville/New York
* Rajinder Singh Rahelu, powerlifting 56 kg, 2004 Athens
