CHENNAI: Two-time Paralympics medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu clinched his maiden gold medal at the World Para Athletics Championships by leaping 1.88m in the men's T63 high jump event in Kobe, Japan, on Tuesday. The mark also helped him breach the championships record, which was held by Sharad Kumar at 1.83m.
In the same event, compatriot Varun Singh Bhati finished fourth (1.78m) and narrowly missed finishing on the podium. Another Indian, Padhiyar RG (1.74m), finished seventh.
Mariyappan had fallen agonisingly short in the last edition as he missed out on the bronze medal on countback. The TN athlete left no stone unturned in the ongoing meet and made an excellent comeback to finish on top.
The 28-year-old started the competition by clearing 1.74m and then went on to clear the 1.78m, 1.82m and 1.85m marks. Later, he set the bar at 1.88m and created a new record.
"Going into the tournament, I aimed to breach 1.95m, but with cold conditions, the muscles got tight and I could clear only 1.88m, which ultimately proved enough," Mariyappan said, who is eyeing a gold at Paris Paralympics.
