India’s Paralympic contingent made a strong statement at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, capturing two medals in the men’s high jump T63 event. Sharad Kumar, a rising star, secured a silver medal while veteran Mariyappan Thangavelu claimed bronze. This remarkable achievement was further enhanced by Sharad’s record-breaking performance. He surpassed Mariyappan’s previous Paralympic record in the T42 category by clearing a height of 1.88m on his second attempt, setting a new benchmark. This win marked Sharad’s second consecutive Paralympic medal, having previously won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Games. However, his quest for gold fell short as he failed to clear 1.91m and subsequently 1.94m. The gold medal was claimed by Ezra Frech of the USA, who set a new Paralympic record with a jump of 1.94m. Meanwhile, Mariyappan, a decorated athlete with gold in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo, could only manage a height of 1.85m, followed by three unsuccessful attempts at 1.88m. The third Indian participant, Shailesh Kumar, finished fourth due to a tiebreaker with Mariyappan. These two medals in high jump significantly boosted India’s medal tally to 20, a historic achievement at a single Paralympic Games. India has showcased exceptional performance, earning three gold, seven silver, and ten bronze medals so far in Paris.
India Secures Two Medals in Men’s High Jump T63 at Paris 2024 Paralympics
