Mariyappan Thangavelu landed India's first gold medal in the 2016 Paralympics after wining the men's T42 high jump event on day two. Varun Bhati also finished on the podium, landing a bronze medal. The third Indian in the event, Sharad Kumar, failed to make the cut, finishing sixth.
Thangavelu's jump was 1.89 m. Bhati tied with silver medallist Sam Grewe of the United States as both registered 1.86 m. It was Kumar who was leading the pack at one stage, clocking 1.55 m and 1.60 m, but a weak third attempt, only reaching 1.77 m, put him out of contention for a medal.
Thangavelu's gold is only India's third in Paralympics history. Javelin thrower Devendra Jhajharia, who is a part of this year's Games too, had hurled his way to the top of the podium in Athens 2004. India's first ever gold in the Paralympics was won in the 1972 Games by swimmer Murlikant Petkar, who won the 50 m freestyle in a world record time of 37.331 seconds.