Tokyo Paralympics: Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar win silver and bronze men's high jump (F63) event

India's medal tally rose to 10 when Mariyappan Thangavelu and Sharad Kumar won the medals in F63 category in men's high jump.

Mariyappan, who won the gold medal in the same category in the Rio Paralympics in 2016 with a jump of 1.89, could manage only 1.86 as American Sam Grewe outjumped him by clearing 1.88 metres. Mariyappan tried to clear 1.88 but failed in three attempts.

Sharad managed 1.83 metres and bagged the bronze medal. The third Indian in the field, Varun Bhati, who won bronze in Rio Paralympics in 2016, finished sixth with a valid jump of 1.77m.

"The socks on my leg got soggy and it was impacting take-off for the jump. If there was no rain, I could have cleared 1.90 metres easily as I had started well and got into a good rhythm," Mariyappan said during a virtual press conference facilitated by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).

"It was alright till 1.80m but once we tried to go higher, takeoff was very difficult," he added.

Sharad said balance was an issue for him because of the rain.

"Rain during the event was dangerous too as we have only one leg to balance on. We had spikes in only one leg whereas the American jumper had it on both his legs. I tried speaking to the officials but as the American was ready to go on, the event continued," said Sharad.

"It was very bad. Unfortunately, I landed on my meniscus and it got dislocated. I was very worried and talked to my parents and brother and they said to don't think about it and just jump. It is very easy to say go and jump but very difficult to actually do that," said Sharad, whose impairment is the result of the effects of polio, diagnosed at age two. The illness caused paralysis in his left leg.

PM Modi and many others hailed Mariyappan's and Sharad's performance at the Paralympics.