Thangavelu Is India’s Flag Bearer at Paralympics Closing Ceremony

Mariyappan Thangavelu won the gold medal in T-42 high jump event with a best effort of 1.89m.

Mariyappan Thangavelu (left) holding the Indian flag after winning gold medal at Rio Paralympics. (Photo: PTI)

Mariyappan Thangavelu, who won India’s third ever gold medal at the the Rio Paralympics, will be the country’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony on 18 September.

Thangavelu, 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.

He won the gold medal in 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.

(With inputs from PTI.)