In a remarkable display of athleticism at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Indian athletes Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu achieved outstanding success in the men’s high jump T63 class. On Tuesday, Sharad Kumar secured the silver medal after soaring to a height of 1.88 meters, while Mariyappan Thangavelu triumphed with a bronze, clearing 1.85 meters. This accomplishment further enhanced India’s standing in the ongoing Paralympic Games, contributing to a historic tally of 20 medals, surpassing the previous best of 19 medals from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Sharad Kumar, aged 32, narrowly missed the gold medal, which was claimed by Ezra Frech of the United States, who achieved a new Paralympic record of 1.94 meters. This achievement marks Sharad Kumar’s second medal at the Paralympic Games, having previously won a bronze medal in Tokyo with a clearance of 1.83 meters. It is worth noting that the men’s high jump final featured competitors from both the T63 and T42 categories, representing athletes with limb deficiencies such as amputations or congenital limb differences.

Both athletes have triumphed over significant personal challenges; Sharad Kumar contracted polio at the tender age of two. Conversely, Mariyappan Thangavelu endured a life-altering incident at five years old when a bus accident resulted in permanent disability to his right leg. With his bronze medal performance, Thangavelu achieved a momentous milestone, becoming the first Indian para-athlete to earn medals in three consecutive Games, previously securing gold in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020.

The success of Kumar and Thangavelu is part of a larger achievement for India in the Paralympic Games, as the nation has now surpassed 50 total medals in its Paralympic history, currently standing at 51 as of Tuesday. Additionally, this achievement represents India’s fourth occasion of securing double podium finishes at the Paris 2024 Games; earlier in the day, Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar won silver and bronze, respectively, in the men’s javelin throw F46 final. Furthermore, Avani Lekhara and Mona Agarwal claimed gold and bronze in SH1 shooting, while Thulasimathi Murugesan and Manisha Ramadass earned silver and bronze in the badminton SU5 class.

In conclusion, the commendable performances of Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu not only reflect their individual prowess but also significantly contribute to India’s esteemed legacy in the Paralympics, emblematic of resilience and outstanding athletic achievement.

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