Rio Paralympics 2016: Mariyappan Thangavelu wins gold, Varun Bhati bronze in in Men’s high jump

Indian athletes Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Bhati created history on Friday after they won gold and bronz medals respectively in men's high jump T42 event at Rio Paralympics 2016. 

Thangavelu won the gold medal, first ever for India in paralympics, thanks to his best jump of 1.89 metres while Bhati registered a best mark of 1.86m. Silver went to USA’s Sam Grewe who also registered the same mark of 1.86 metres.

Kumar led the pack at one stage after clearing hurdles of 1.55m and 1.60m but he could only register a best of 1.77m which wasn’t enough to bring him into medal contention – thus finishing sixth.

#Gold  & #Bronze  for IND 🇮🇳 in the High Jump T-42. Mariyappan Thangavelu 1st, Bhati Varun Singh 3rd. #Athletics pic.twitter.com/p5keJ2jGlg

— Rio 2016 (@Rio2016_en) September 10, 2016

#GOLD for Mariyappan Thangavelu & #BRONZE for Varun Singh Bhati in Men's High Jump T42 at #Rio2016 #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/ztVKQQyFJP

— India at Sports (@indiaatsports) September 10, 2016

India is proud of you Mariappan Thangavelu and Bhati Varun Singh for wining gold and bronze at #Rio2016Paralympics pic.twitter.com/45yxUlDVNm

— India In Brazil (@indiainbrazil) September 10, 2016

Rio Paralympics will conclude on September 18. It started on September 7.

Also Read | Rio Paralympic: PM Modi, Abhinav Bindra praise medallists for gold and bronze