When it comes to jumping to the top, that’s exactly what Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu did, clinching two Paralympic medals for India at the Paris Games.
All’s well that ends well, and this was indeed the case for India in the Men’s High Jump T63 event. Not just one, but two of our athletes clinched medals and stood on top of the podium. Sharad Kumar, the former world number one, not only secured a silver medal but also broke the Paralympic record in the T42 category. On the other hand, Mariyappan Thangavelu showcased his high jump talent and won the bronze medal.
Sharad Kumar on top!
For India, Sharad Kumar did everything he could, breaking the Paralympic record in the T42 category. There was an impressive competition between him and the U.S.’s Ezra Frech, who not only clinched gold but also set a new Paralympic record by clearing 1.94 meters, which is now a new benchmark. Although Sharad attempted to clear 1.94 meters, he was unsuccessful. Nevertheless, his performance was enough to secure the silver medal and now from bronze medal at the Tokyo Paralympics to Silver. This is exactly what you expect from a champion.
Mariyappan Thangavelu bags bronze
Well, on one hand, Sharad Kumar, who came third at the Tokyo Olympics, has now taken the lead in this healthy competition, as Mariyappan Thangavelu finished third this time. Mariyappan, who was second at that time, started well and was, at one point, in contention for the gold medal. However, he failed to clear the 1.88-meter barrier. But now with a clearance of 1.85 meters, Mariyappan now has three medals, one of each color, at the Paralympics: silver from Tokyo, bronze from Paris, and gold from Rio 2016.
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