From hardships to Paralympics gold, Mariyappan Thangavelu has been a true champion

Mariyappan Thangavelu won a gold medal in high jump at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. He has not been physically impaired since birth. A truck hit his right leg at five leaving it runtish. To make ends meet, he started working as a newspaper seller and vegetable vendor.

Mariyappan Thangavelu won gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in the high jump. He will also win a bronze medal at 2019 World Para Athletics Championships.

Padma Shri (2017) is the fourth highest Indian national honor. Arjuna Award ( 2017) - second highest sporting honor in India. Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna (2020) - highest sports honor of India

Miyappan Thangavelu won gold medal at the 2016 Paralympics. He used the prize money to buy his mother a paddy field. The money did not last long and he needed a steady job to support his family. In 2017, he was the flagbearer for the 2018 Asian Para Games held in Jakarta and has been chosen as the Indian contingent at 2021 Paralymbics Games.