New Delhi, On friday, In the men’s High Jump T42 event to open India’s medal tally at the Rio Paralympics, Mariyappan Thangavelu made history as he clinched the gold medal and Varun Singh Bhati clinched bronze.

Thangavelu won gold with a best effort of 1.89m while Bhati clinched the bronze with a jump of 1.86m got. USA’s Sam Grewe, also with a best jump of 1.86m, took the silver. India thus opened their account in Rio with two medals on the same day.

T-42 is a disability sport classification for differently-abled track and field athletes with single above the knee amputations or a disability that is comparable.

With this achievement, 20-year-old Thangavelu, became the first Indian high-jumper to win a gold medal at the Rio.

After Thangavelu and Bhati's feat, India's overall medal tally in all Paralympic Games has reached 10 - three golds, three silvers and four bronze.