Rio Paralympics 2016: Thangavelu, Bhati get cash rewards from govt on their victories

Mariyappan Thangavelu won the gold medal in the men's high jump event on Friday, while Varun Singh Bhati bagged the bronze medal in the same event at the Paralympic games being held in Rio Di Janero.

The Department of Sports was quick to announce rewards for the gold and bronze medallists. While Tangavelu will be awarded with Rs 75 lakh, Bhati will get Rs 30 lakh for his victory at the games.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports tweeted on Saturday, “Under Sports Ministry's Cash Award Scheme, Mariyappan will get 75 lac and Bhati 30 lac rupees. Congrats.”

Even the Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the two athletes, tweeting, “India is elated! Congratulations to Mariyappan Thangavelu on winning a gold and Varun Singh Bhati for the bronze at the Rio Paralympics.”

20-year-old Mariyappan Thangavelu won the first place in the men’s high jump T-42 event at the Rio Paralympics as he made a leap of 1.89 m and 21-year-old Varun Singh Bhati, who recorded a 1.86 m jump, won the bronze medal at the same event.

This marked India's first medals won at this year's Paralympic Games. 

Thangavelu is reported to be the first Indian high jumper to win a gold medal at the Paralympics.

The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event involving athletes with a range of disabilities, including impaired muscle power, impaired passive range of movement, limb deficiency leg length difference, short stature, hypertonia, ataxia, athetosis, vision impairment and intellectual impairment.

The games are being held immediately after the Brazil Rio Olympics this year.