Jayalalithaa announces Rs 2 crore award for Paralympic gold medalist Mariappan

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has announced a reward of Rs 2 crore for T Mariyappan, who has bagged gold in the high jump event at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.

In her statement, Jayalalithaa said that the athlete had made both his state and the nation proud. "Your achievement, overcoming several obstacles and hurdles, will inspire more and more children and youth to overcome adversities and to participate and strive for greater achievements," the statement reads.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sports Minsiter Vijay Goel also sent out congratulatory messages to the winners of the men's T42 High Jump event on day two of the Paralympic Games.

India's Varun Bhati bagged the Bronze medal in the same category.

T42 is disability sport classification for disability athletics, restricted to only track and jump events. It applies to athletes with single above the knee amputations or a disability that is comparable.