Mariyappan Thangavelu to be India's flag-bearer at Rio Paralympics closing ceremony

Rio de Janeiro: Thangavelu Mariyappan, who became only the third Indian ever to clinch a gold medal in the Paralympics, will be the country’s flag-bearer at the closing ceremony of the Rio Games here on 18 September. “Thangavelu Mariyappan will take lead as the flag bearer of the closing ceremony at the Paralympic Games 2016!,” the Indian Olympic Association tweeted from its official handle.

Thangavelu Mariyappan will take lead as the flag bearer of the closing ceremony at the Paralympic Games 2016! pic.twitter.com/wzh7SmRSrj

— Team India (@WeAreTeamIndia) September 12, 2016

Mariyappan, who was merely five-years-old when his right leg was crushed by a speeding bus, joined Murlikant Petkar (1972, swimming) and Devendra Jhajharia (2004, javelin throw) in the Indian Paralympics gold club. Mariyappan won the yellow metal in the T-42 High Jump event with a best effort of 1.89m, leaving behind world champion Sam Grewe of the USA who registered 1.86m. The T-42 classification is for athletes with lower limb deficiency, leg length difference, impaired muscle power or impaired range of movement.