Mariappan confident of setting new world record in 2020

Mariappan was speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event organised by ‘Maram Madurai’ on Friday. During the event, Mariappan was honoured and taken on a procession on a decorated jeep. “In Rio I had jumped 1.89 meters, but I am confident of crossing the 2.10-meter mark at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. The present world record is 1.92 meters and I have already touched 1.96 meters during practice sessions,” Mariappan said. My coach, Sathyanarayana, had been encouraging me and is confident about my performance, said Mariappan adding that “The gold medal has changed the world around me. my coach is happy that I am recognised by most people wherever I go.”

Coach Sathyanarayana claimed that after winning the gold, Mariappan had earned close to Rs.6 crores and at the age of 22 Rs.6 crores is no small amount. He had been insisting on youth to take up sports through which they can maintain both their mental and physical well-being. However, youth in India are still reluctant to take up sports as a profession despite the availability of better infrastructure. If someone wants to excel in sports, concentration should be on a single game. If one focuses on many games, there may be many certificates but he or she won’t excel in any of the games claimed Sathyanarayana. 

Prashanth, Coordinator of the event, claimed that the gold medal won by Mariappan was not just a medal but an identity to all the differently-abled sports persons like him. Most came to know about Paralympics only after Mariappan had bagged gold.