New Delhi: High-jumpers Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar on Tuesday ensured India's medal rush at Tokyo continued as India's duo won silver and bronze medals respectively at the ongoing Tokyo Paralympics2020 men's high jump event, taking India's medal tally to 10 at the Paralympics.
India has so far won two gold, five silver and three bronze medals. Star Para-athletes Mariyappan won the silver medal with a best clearance of 1.86m while Sam Grewe of USA won the gold in his third attempt with a best clearance of 1.88m. Sharad secured the bronze with a best clearance of 1.83m. They were both Sport Class T42.
After winning the bronze medal, Sharad Kumar revealed that he was battling an injury on the eve of event.
"It was very bad for me, I was crying the whole night. The fact that I landed on my meniscus, and that was dislocated. I did not even think that I will be able to participate, I spoke to my parents in the morning saying it is done and I am being punished for some sin that I have done. I do not know what it is, that is when my brother and few friends told me just go and participate, it does not matter," Sharad told ANI query during a virtual press conference organised by Eurosport.
"I am feeling great because I had an injury last night, every jump was like a war. Last night, I cried, cried and cried. I read Bhagavad Gita last night. We do not have control over such things and that is how I entered the arena today. Getting a medal is icing on the cake, but as I entered the arena today, I thanked God that I was able to participate in such a big event," he added.
Talking about the rainy conditions during the event, Sharad said: "The fact that it was raining during the high jump was very very dangerous for us athletes. But the fact that we managed to do it, that was something, we just had our tactics on. It was a dangerous situation. I even tried to talk to the officials and say we might have to call it in, but it just went on."