Tokyo: 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 here Tuesday. Mariyappan Thangavelu cleared 1.86m, but had to settle for silver behind American gold winner Sam Grewe who jumped 1.88m. Kumar took the bronze with an effort of 1.83.
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.
Earlier in the day, shooter Singhraj Adana 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.
The Tamil Nadu athlete suffered 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 labourer before becoming a vegetable seller.
Kumar, who hails from Patna, Bihar, suffered a 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 medallist.
