Paralympics medallist Mariyappan to sport a blade soon

Triple Paralympic medallist Mariyappan Thangavelu plans to attach a blade to his leg for improved performance in high jump.

Triple Paralympic medallist high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu hopes to perform as well as he has done in the past when he attaches a blade to his right leg in the coming weeks.

The 29-year-old, who won bronze medal at the Paris Paralympics, is planning to undergo surgery, most likely in Bengaluru, in the coming weeks to be ready for the World Para Championships scheduled in New Delhi from September 26 to October 5.

Due to the impending surgery, Mariyappan is not participating in the ongoing National Para Athletics Championships here and will also miss the World Para Athletics Grand Prix from March 11 to 13 in New Delhi.

“I am confident that the National Para Athletics Championships will help athletes from Tamil Nadu, especially those from the villages. I also believe that the blade will improve my jump,” said Mariyappan on Tuesday.

His coach, Sathyanarayana, said that with the blade, his ward will move from category T42 to T64 (blade inserted below the knee). He emphasised that using a blade is a shift in strategy and is confident that it will help Mariyappan win gold at the Worlds.

“I have been advising him to use a blade since 2017, but only now has he become convinced. Currently, there are only two high jumpers with blades, and both are from the USA,” said Sathyanarayana, who is the head coach of the National Para team.

“Mariyappan has explosive power in his leg, and with a blade, he can achieve even more. Since he will be over 30 at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, this move will benefit him,” added Sathyanarayana.