Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Mariyappan India's flagbearer in Paralympic closing ceremony

September 12, 2016 17:24 IST

IMAGE: India's Mariyappan Thangavelu celebrates with his gold medal in the men's high jump-T42 on Day 2 of the Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters.

Thangavelu Mariyappan, who became only the third Indian ever to clinch a gold medal in the Paralympics, will be the country's flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of the Rio Games on September 18.

"Thangavelu Mariyappan will take lead as the flag bearer of the closing ceremony at the Paralympic Games 2016!," the Indian Olympic Association tweeted from its official handle.

Mariyappan, who was merely five-years-old when his right leg was crushed by a speeding bus, joined Murlikant Petkar (1972, swimming) and Devendra Jhajharia (2004, javelin throw) in the Indian Paralympics gold club.

Mariyappan won the yellow metal in the T-42 High Jump event with a best effort of 1.89m, leaving behind world champion Sam Grewe of the USA who registered 1.86m.

The T-42 classification is for athletes with lower limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement. 

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.