 "Rio Paralympics 2016: PM Narendra Modi, Abhinav Bindra lead praise for India’s medal winners")
New Delhi: From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to India’s lone individual Olympic gold-medallist Abhinav Bindra, congratulatory messages poured in from all corners for Rio Paralympic Games’ T-42 high-jump gold-medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu and bronze winner Varun Bhati. “India is elated! Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning a gold & Varun Singh Bhati for the bronze at the #Paralympics,” Modi tweeted for the duo.
India is elated! Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning a gold & Varun Singh Bhati for the bronze at the #Paralympics. #Rio2016
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 10, 2016
Under the Sports Ministry’s Cash Award Scheme, Mariyappan will get Rs 75 lakh and Bhati will be presented Rs 30 lakh for their feat. The prize money is at par with the medal winners from last month’s Olympic Games as was announced by the Ministry before the Games. Thangavelu won the yellow metal with his best jump of 1.89 metres, while Bhati’s best effort of 1.86m fetched him the bronze. The silver medal in this event went to USA’s Sam Grewe who also registered the same mark of 1.86 metres. Bindra welcomed Thangavelu to the gold medal club while congratulating the duo for their feat. “Mariyappan joins the gold medal club, welcome! Kudos 2 @GoSportsVoices for aiding Varun Bhati who won bronze! Champs,” he tweeted.
Mariyappan joins the gold medal club, welcome! Kudos 2 @GoSportsVoices for aiding Varun Bhati who won bronze! Champs pic.twitter.com/dQhlnGP45n
— Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) September 10, 2016
Sports Minister Vijay Goel also heaped praise on the duo. “Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu for winning #Gold & Varun Singh Bhati for winning #bronze in Men’s high Jump at Rio,” he said.
Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu for winning #Gold & Varun Singh Bhati for winning #bronze in Men’s high Jump at Rio #Paralympics
— Vijay Goel (@VijayGoelBJP) September 10, 2016
“It is a big achievement and I am very proud of our athletes,” he added. Rio Olympics bronze-medallist Sakshi Malik said the two are an inspiration for other athletes. “Indian sports mein prerna ki kami nahin hai (there is no dearth of inspiration in Indian sports). Congrats Mariyappan Thangavelu aur Varun Bhati aapke gold aur bronze ke liye. #Paralympics,” she tweeted.
Indian sports mein prerna ki kami nahin hai.Congrats Mariyappan Thangavelu aur Varun Bhati aapke gold aur bronze ke liye. #Paralympics
— Sakshee Malikkh (@SakshiMalik) September 10, 2016
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAnother Rio Olympian to applaud the duo was Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar.
Congrats #Mariyappan & nice to see fellow #GoSportsAthlete @defying190 on the podium. @Paralympics @GoSportsVoices https://t.co/NSFEjptYGu
— Dipa Karmakar (@DipaKarmakar) September 10, 2016
Filmstar Amitabh Bachchan also congratulated the duo. “T2375 -#Paralympics joy for India .. Gold & Bronze for Thangavelu and Bhatti in high jump ! COME ON INDIA !!!,” he tweeted.
T 2375 -#Paralympics joy for India .. Gold & Bronze for Thangavelu and Bhatti in high jump ! COME ON INDIA !!!
— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) September 10, 2016
Piers Morgan decided that this was a good moment to remind Indians about his ‘motivational Olympic tweets’.
Congrats Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning #Paralympics Gold for India.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 10, 2016
Clearly read my motivational tweets. 🏅 pic.twitter.com/zV6qYuIKXx
“Never seen anything more inspirational than this. Congrats Mariyappan Thangavelu #Paralympics #gold,” added former hockey captain Viren Rasquinha.
Never seen anything more inspirational than this. Congrats Mariyappan Thangavelu #Paralympics #gold https://t.co/o5wCe3EpBx
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) September 10, 2016
Beijing Olympics bronze-medallist boxer Vijender Singh hoped that the two athletes would be accorded the same honours that were bestowed on Olympic medallists P V Sindhu and Sakshi. “Hope india give the same prize money and honour to Paralympic athletes #Rio2016Paralympics,” he said.
Hope india give the same prize money and honour to Paralympic athletes 🇮🇳 #Rio2016Paralympics
— Vijender Singh (@boxervijender) September 10, 2016
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju also congratulated Thangavelu and Bhati. “Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning a gold & Varun Singh Bhati for the bronze at the #Paralympics,” he said.
Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning a gold & Varun Singh Bhati for the bronze at the #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/5gq57WAwrg
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) September 10, 2016
Olympic bronze-medallist boxer M C Mary Kom said it was a proud moment for the country. “Congratulation. Both of you has make all Indians PROUD. #KheloIndia,” she said.
Congratulation. Both of you has make all Indians PROUD. #KheloIndia #Rio2016Paralympics pic.twitter.com/jw9irlbSyN
— Dr. M C Mary Kom OLY (@MangteC) September 10, 2016
The Indian Cricket Board was not to be left behind either and posted, “Congratulations Mariyappan Thangavelu & Varun Bhati on winning #Gold & #Bronze respectively at Rio #Paralympics.”
Congratulations Mariyappan Thangavelu & Varun Bhati on winning #Gold & #Bronze respectively at Rio #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/ffcQJzkWqH
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 10, 2016
Congress President Sonia Gandhi also lauded the duo, calling their achievement historic. “…history has been created today. Outstanding lives and games of these athletes will inspire generations to come,” the party’s official twitter handle quoted her as saying.
.. history has been created today. Outstanding lives and games of these athletes will inspire generations to come.
— Congress (@INCIndia) September 10, 2016
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also congratulated the Paralympians.
Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning gold & Varun Bhati on winning bronze in #Paralympics 2016 & making #IND proud.
— Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) September 10, 2016
We couldn’t miss Virender Sehwag’s take on the celebrations.
Congrats to #MariyappanThangavelu for gold & Varun Singh fr bronze in #Paralympics
— Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 10, 2016
These true heroes defy all odds pic.twitter.com/yJNgQFm8eG
Another cricketer to acknowledge the momentous occassion was Sachin Tendulkar.
Congratulations on your medals at the #Paralympics #MariyappanThangavelu & #VarunBhati. Your strength & spirit is commendable. Keep shining!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 10, 2016
From businessmen to celebrities to sportsmen, everyone joined in the celebrations.
Love watchn the video again and again!! What inspiration!! Kudos #MariyappanThangavelu https://t.co/dtSOCay9Hs
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) September 10, 2016
The ‘bar has been raised’ & history has been created #MariyappanThangavelu & #VarunSinghBhati u both hv made d nation proud #Paralympics
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) September 10, 2016
This jump was as inspirational as a prayer..A leap of faith..
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) September 10, 2016
So how many of you would urge a #TharforMariyappan?https://t.co/OmNntcSRDm
Mariyappan Thangavelu's high jump gold at the Paralympics is stunning, inspiring and humbling.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 10, 2016
Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu & Varun Singh Bhati for the great performance at the #Paralympics.
— Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@Gurudev) September 10, 2016
Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning India's first gold & Varun Singh Bhati on clinching the bronze at #Rio2016 #Paralympics
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) September 10, 2016
Congratulations to our heroes #MariyappanThangavelu for Gold & #VarunSingh for bronze in #Paralympics #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/TWzw8iAlnx
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) September 10, 2016
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa also announced a reward of 2 crores for Mariyappan.
Puratchi Thalaivi Amma announces 2 crores prize money for Mariyappan Thangavelu #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/EQwJAEx68Y
— AIADMK - -SayYesToWomenSafety&AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) September 10, 2016
A hearty congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu and Varun Bhati!
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