EmilBarraza: slightly enhance section per sources

2026-02-20T22:30:42Z

slightly enhance section per sources

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-09-07T14:27:49Z

Created a new article

New page

{{short description|Indian Paralympic high jumper and Paralympic medalist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| headercolor = gold
| full_name = Mariyappan Thangavelu
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|6|28}}
| birth_place = Periavadagampatti, [[Salem district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| height =
| weight =
| image = Mariyappan Thangavelu.jpg
| caption = Mariyappan at the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]]
| country = {{IND}}
| sport = Athletics
| event = High Jump - T42 &T63
| paralympics = '''[[2016 Summer Paralympics]]''': High Jump (T42) – Gold & '''[[2020 Summer Paralympics]]''': High Jump (T63) – Silver
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IND}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's athletics}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Paralympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio]]|[[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|High Jump (T42)]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Tokyo]]|[[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics|High Jump (T63)]]}}
}}

'''Mariyappan Thangavelu''' (born 28 June 1995)<ref>{{cite news|last1=C.|first1=Aprameya|title=Rio Paralympics: Who is history-maker Mariyappan Thangavelu?|url=http://www.oneindia.com/sports/rio-paralympics-who-is-history-maker-mariyappan-thangavelu-2205708.html|access-date=10 September 2016|work=OneIndia.com|date=10 September 2016}}</ref> is an Indian [[Paralympic Games|Paralympic]] [[High Jump|high jumper]]. He represented India in the [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Summer Paralympics games]] held in [[Rio de Janeiro]] in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|men's high jump T-42 category]] and the [[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Summer Paralympic games]] held in [[Tokyo]] in the [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics|men's high jump T-63 category]] , winning the gold medal and silver medal respectively in the finals.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-09-10|title=Paralympics 2016 {{!}} Mariyappan Thangavelu wins India's first gold in Rio|url=https://sportscafe.in/articles/sports/2016/sep/10/paralympics-2016-mariyappan-thangavelu-wins-indias-first-gold-in-rio|url-status=live|access-date=2016-09-14|website=Sportscafe}}</ref><ref name="golden_leap">{{cite news|last1=Stalin|first1=J. Sam Daniel|title=Paralympian Mariyappan Thangavelu's Golden Leap From Poverty|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/news/262708-paralympian-mariyappan-thangavelu-s-golden-leap-from-poverty|access-date=10 September 2016|work=NDTV Sports|date=10 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910123616/http://sports.ndtv.com/othersports/news/262708-paralympian-mariyappan-thangavelu-s-golden-leap-from-poverty|archive-date=10 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://olympics.com/en/news/mariyappan-thangavelu-sharad-kumar-tokyo-2020-paralympics-high-jump-result}}</ref> He is India's first Paralympian gold medalist since 2004.

On 25 January 2017, the Government of India conferred him with the [[Padma Shri]] award for his contribution towards sports<ref>{{cite web|url=http://padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|title=PadmaAwards-2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129231739/http://www.padmaawards.gov.in/PDFS/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|archive-date=2017-01-29}}</ref> and in the same year, he was also awarded the [[Arjuna Award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/sports/national-sports-awards-centre-unveils-list-cricket-sensation-harmanpreet-kaur-to-receive-arjuna-award/819083/|title=National Sports Awards: Centre unveils list, cricket sensation Harmanpreet Kaur to receive Arjuna Award|date=22 August 2017|access-date=22 August 2017|publisher=Financial Express}}</ref> He was awarded with the [[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] in 2020.

==Early life==
Mariyappan was born in Periavadagampatti village, [[Salem district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], one of six children (four brothers and a sister). His father reportedly abandoned the family early on and his mother, Saroja, raised her children as a single mother, carrying bricks as a labourer until becoming a vegetable seller, earning {{INRConvert|100|r}} a day.<ref name="golden_leap"/> At the age of five, Mariyappan suffered permanent disability in his right leg when he was run over by a drunk bus driver while walking to school. The bus crushed his leg below the knee, causing it to become stunted.<ref name="not_beyond">{{cite news|last1=Chidananda|first1=Shreedutta|title=It's not beyond me, even gold is possible: Mariyappan|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/its-not-beyond-me-even-gold-is-possible-mariyappan/article8622655.ece|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Hindu|date=20 May 2016}}</ref> Despite this setback, he completed secondary schooling. He says that he didn't see himself as different from able-bodied kids.<ref name="golden_leap"/>

==Athletic career==
Mariyappan enjoyed playing volleyball as a student; subsequently, his school physical education instructor encouraged him to try high jumping.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/athletics/10-things-need-know-about-indias-mariyappan-thangavelu|title=Mariyappan Thangavelu: 10 things you need to know about India's Paralympic Games gold medalist|date=2016-09-10|access-date=2018-02-16}}</ref> In his first competitive event, aged 14, he placed second among a field of able-bodied competitors, after which he received strong encouragement from his classmates and others in Salem district. In 2013, his current coach Satyanarayana, supported by the Sports Academy of India for the Differently-Abled, first noticed his performance at the Indian national para-athletics championships, and formally took him on as a student in 2015, bringing him to [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]] for further coaching.<ref name="not_beyond"/>

In March 2016, Mariyappan cleared a distance of {{cvt|1.78|m}} in the men's T-42 high jump event at the IPC Grand Prix in [[Tunisia]], qualifying him for the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name="not_beyond"/> In Rio, he won the gold medal, again in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Paralympics – Men's high jump#T42|T-42 category]], with a jump of {{cvt|1.89|m}}.<ref name="bag">{{cite news|title=Indians bag gold, bronze in men's high jump in Paralympics|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/mariyappan-thangavelu-wins-gold-in-mens-high-jump-at-rio-paralympics/article9093612.ece|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Hindu|date=10 September 2016}}</ref>

In November 2019, he cleared a distance of {{cvt|1.80|m}} min the Men's T-63 high jump event at the [[2019 World Para Athletics Championships]] in [[Dubai]] to win the bronze medal, behind fellow Indian [[Sharad Kumar (athlete)|Sharad Kumar]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dubai 2019 - Schedule & Results|url=https://www.paralympic.org/dubai-2019/schedule/info-live-results/atdu19/eng/zz/engzz_athletics-event-overview-men-s-high-jump-t63.htm|access-date=2021-08-26|website=International Paralympic Committee|language=en}}</ref>

In August 2021, he won the silver medal in [[Athletics at the 2020 Summer Paralympics – Men's high jump#T63|men's T-63 high jump]] event at the [[2020 Summer Paralympics]], which was the second medal in his Paralympic career.

==Awards and recognition==
*[[Padma Shri]] (2017) - fourth highest Indian national honour<ref name="padma_awards_17">{{cite web|title=Ministry of Home Affairs: Padma Awards 2017|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/PadmaAwards-2017_25012017.pdf|website=mha.nic.in|access-date=25 January 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*[[Arjuna Award]] (2017) - second highest Indian sporting honour, including a cash award of {{INRConvert|5|l}}<ref name="desperate">{{cite news|last1=Periwal|first1=Sunaina Rachel|title=Arjuna Award winner and Paralympic gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu desperate for stable job to sustain family|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|access-date=26 December 2017|work=Sportskeeda|date=30 August 2017}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|2|c}} from the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]]<ref name="crore">{{cite news|title=Rio Paralympics: Jayalalithaa announces Rs 2 crore award for gold medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/paralympics-gold-medallist-mariyappan-thangavelu-jayalalithaa-cash-award-2-crore-3023852/|access-date=10 September 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=10 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|75|l}} from the [[Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports]]<ref name="crore"/>
*{{INRConvert|50|l}} from the [[Government of Madhya Pradesh]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Bhopal: 1,000 athletes to get annual scholarship of Rs5 lakh each for eight years: Rathore|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/latest-news/bhopal-1000-athletes-to-get-annual-scholarship-of-rs5-lakh-each-for-eight-years-rathore/1182458|access-date=26 December 2017|work=The Free Press Journal|date=6 December 2017}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|30|l}} from the [[Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Govt announces Rs 90L cash awards in total for Paralympics medal winners|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/other-sports/govt-announces-rs-90l-cash-awards-in-total-for-paralympics-medal-winners/story-A4dIaHpm1t1tEZwD7uqjWM.html|access-date=1 October 2016|work=Hindustan Times|date=29 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|15|l}} from fund established by [[Sachin Tendulkar]], various corporations.<ref>{{cite news|title=India's Rio 2016 Paralympics medal winners felicitated|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/indias-rio-2016-paralympics-medal-winners-felicitated-3063673/|access-date=3 October 2016|work=The Indian Express|date=3 October 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|10|l}} from [[Yash Raj Films]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Yash Raj Films to honour Indian Paralympic medal winners|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/570337/yash-raj-films-honour-indian.html|access-date=14 September 2016|work=Deccan Herals|date=14 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|10|l}} from the Delhi Golf Club<ref>{{cite news|title=Delhi Golf club announces Rs 50 lakh in cash awards for Rio Olympics and Paralympics winners|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/delhi-golf-club-announces-rs-50-lakh-in-cash-awards-for-rio-olympics-and-paralympics-winners-3013334.html|access-date=1 October 2016|work=Firstpost Sports|date=21 September 2016}}</ref>
*{{INRConvert|5|l}} from NRI businessman Mukkattu Sebastian<ref>{{cite news|title=NRI businessman announces cash prize for 2016 Rio paralympics heroes|url=http://www.newsnation.in/sports-news/other-sports/nri-businessman-announces-cash-prize-for-2016-rio-paralympics-heroes-article-158215.html|access-date=1 February 2017|work=News Nation|date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
*[[Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna]] (2020) - highest sporting honour of India.

==Personal life==
Mariyappan has an elder sister Sudha and two younger brothers Kumar and Gopi.<ref name="bag"/> In 2015, he completed a bachelor's degree in business administration.<ref name="bag"/>

Following his Paralympic triumph, Mariyappan used some of his prize money to buy his mother a paddy field, so his family could enjoy a more stable source of income, and also used his winnings to build a better house for his family,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/mariyappan-and-bhati-set-their-sights-on-higher-targets/article19582542.ece|title=Mariyappan and Bhati set their sights on higher targets|last=Ganesan|first=Uthra|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=26 December 2017}}</ref> depositing the remaining sums in an account. In August 2017, Mariyappan said that while it was "a good feeling" to be recognised and to have his neighbours treat him with great respect, he felt "a slight sadness" that even his friends now treated him with increased formality, which irritated him. In a separate interview that month, he said that though he remained committed to an athletic career, he had been living off his prize money, and was in desperate need of a steady job to support his family. He said he had requested help from the Tamil Nadu government, but had not received a reply.<ref name="desperate"/>

In October 2018, he was named as the flag bearer for the [[2018 Asian Para Games]] held in [[Jakarta]] that month.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/mariyappan-thangavelu-named-indias-flag-bearer-for-asian-para-games-5383422/|title=Mariyappan Thangavelu named India's flag-bearer for Asian Para Games |newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> On 7 December, he was offered a Group A post as a coach with the [[Sports Authority of India]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/sport-others/sai-appoints-11-olympians-and-3-paralympians-as-coaches-and-assistant-coaches/|title=SAI appoints 11 Olympians and 3 Paralympians as coaches and assistant coaches |newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref>

A petition to implead T Mariappan, recipient of gold medal in Para-Olympics competitions held recently, in a youth’s death case, has been filed in the Madras High Court. According to the petitioner, her son Sathish Kumar (19) faced the wrath of Mariappan for dashing his two-wheeler against the latter’s new Mahindra car on 3 June last. He was beaten up by Mariappan and his friends Sabari and Yuvaraj. When they snatched his mobile phone, Sathish Kumar ran behind them to get it back. Since then he was missing. However, he was found dead near the railway track the next day. She lodged a complaint with local police on the death of her son and also sought protection. As there was no effective action, she filed the present.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2017/oct/12/paralympic-hero-mariappan-accused-of-murdering-youth-who-collided-with-his-car-1671715.html | title=Paralympic hero Mariappan accused of murdering youth who collided with his car | date=12 October 2017| newspaper=The New Indian Express | access-date=2 July 2020 }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Paralympic medalists for India}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Sports}}
{{Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardees}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thangavelu, Mariyappan}}
[[Category:1995 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Athletes from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Salem district]]
[[Category:Indian male high jumpers]]
[[Category:Paralympic athletes for India]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in sports]]
[[Category:Paralympic gold medalists for India]]
[[Category:Paralympic silver medalists for India]]
[[Category:Tamil sportspeople]]
[[Category:Paralympic medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Khel Ratna Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Arjuna Award]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Paralympics]]

Mariyappan Thangavelu - Revision history

EmilBarraza: slightly enhance section per sources

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article