Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today announced a cash prize of Rs. 2 crore for Mariyappan Thangavelu, hailing from the state, for winning a gold medal at the Rio Paralympic Games high jump event.

“I am very happy to inform you that I have decided that the Government of Tamil Nadu will award you a cash prize of Rs.2 crore on par with Olympic Gold Medal winners from Tamil Nadu,” she said in her congratulatory letter to Mariyappan.

The Chief Minister said she was delighted to learn that he has won a gold medal at the Paralympics. “I understand that this is the first time an Indian has won a gold medal in the High Jump event in the Paralympics,” she said.

“By leaping over a height of 1.89 metres, you have leapt into history and done both the nation and the state of Tamil Nadu proud,” she further wrote in her letter.

Jayalalithaa said his achievement, overcoming several obstacles and hurdles, would inspire more and more children and the youth to overcome adversities and to participate and strive for greater achievements.

“Kindly accept my heartiest congratulations on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu on your splendid achievement. May you stand forth as a beacon of hope for all those striving to achieve success in their chosen fields, overcoming all odds,” she said.

Greeting Mariyappan, PMK leader and Dharmapuri Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss said he secured the gold by going through rigorous training.

Referring to the achievement of Varun Bhati, who won the bronze medal in the same high jump category, he said the duo had brought huge esteem and honour to India at a time when the nation failed to win a lot of medals at the Olympics, held last month.

He said Mariyappan’s right leg was impaired in an accident at an young age and though he became differently-abled, he trained intensively without losing self-confidence.

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