Mariyappan Thangavelu Becomes India Olympic Flag Bearer For The Tokyo Paralympics

Mariyappan Thangavelu Becomes India Olympic Flag Bearer For The Tokyo Paralympics

Tokyo Paralympics is the most awaited event by sportspersons presently, gold medalist at the Rio games Mariyappam Thangavelu is going to be the India Olympic flag bearer

The executive committee of Paralympics in India recently came up with some suggestions for the upcoming games, names have been finalized now. Gold medal winner Mariyappan Thangavelu in the Rio Olympics that were held in 2016 is going to lead India in the Paralympics.

Mariyappan Thangavelu To Be India Olympic Flag Bearer At Tokyo Paralympics

He is going to bear the flag for the Indian contingent; Para Athletics chairman “R Satyanarayana himself announced this news recently. 72 para-athletes are going to participate in the Tokyo Paralympics 2021. A total of 24 slots have been allotted to the players by Indian Olympic Association. This time 18 female players were included in the June trials for the games.

Leading the country in the Olympics or Paralympic games is considered a matter of great pride. Like Olympics, Paralympics too are multi-sport events but here the players that have met numerous disabilities participate. Apart from Paralympics, Defalympics and special games are also carried out parallel to the Olympics games by the world sports authorities.

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Mariyappan Thangavelu Story, Awards, Gold Medal And Record

Mariyappan hails from the Salem district of Tamil Nadu. At the young age of 5, this Paralympic player developed a permanent disability when a bus crushed his knee. His leg along with his knee is disabled but still, this disability has never affected his gameplay during various national and international events. He has been a recipient of the Padma Shri award and the Arjuna award in the year 2017.

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In 2016, Mariyappan competed in the Rio Paralympics and was honored with a gold medal for his victory. Presently he is 25 years old and has been conferred by Khel Ratna by the Indian government for his massive sports achievements.

During the Rio games he won gold in the High Jump category, he cleared 1.89 m. the qualification of Mariyappan for the Tokyo Paralympics took place in the IPC World Athletics Championships of 2019, these were held in Dubai, UAE. He truly is an inspiration for people.

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