Chennai: Tokyo Olympics concluded on August 8 but the city will remain focused on Palalympic Thanks to August 24 to September 5.
The Indian medal calculates in Rio Paralympics standing at 4 (2 gold, but bronze) but that number — According to high star Jumper Mariyappan ThangaveLu — It is likely to rise significantly in the upcoming edition in Tokyo which will be held from August 24 to September 5.
“I expect our paralympic contingent with a bag medal in two digits,” the 26-year-old child from Salem told Tii.
India sent its biggest contingent — 54 members — for the event.
Mariyappan will be a bearer of the Indian flag at the opening ceremony.
He is scheduled to go to Tokyo on August 18.
Mariyappan, who won gold in the T-42 high jump category in Rio, believed that the Pandemic Covid-19 had made it work harder at the level of durability.
“Emphasis on my training, in the past year, has increased my durability level.
Previously, I would be able to do around 400m running during the training session but which has increased to almost 1200 m now.
The emphasis is primarily on quality than quantity.
Also, beforehand I will only concentrate on my preparation but today I studied the opponent in front of the tournament, “Mariyappan said who was awarded with Khel Ratna last year.
After the achievement in the game Rio, Mariyappan suffered an ankle injury on his right leg and underwent surgery in 2018.
“At first it was difficult when I continued my training regime.
I want to be a full throttle but must gradually increase my workload and not in a hurry.
I became more aware of how I had to practice after going under a knife, “Mariyappan said, who won Bronze in the 2018 Asian game in Jakarta.
He qualified for Tokyo Paralympics after winning Bronze at the World of Athletic Championship in Dubai in 2019.
Mariyappan has been training with the old coach of Sathyanarayana in Bengaluru in terms of Paralympics.
It is not surprising that Mariyappan gained inspiration from Indian athletes in the Tokyo match.
“Gold Neeraj Chopra will motivate everyone to give the best.
Every athlete we do the best and that is what is taken into account.
Neeraj’s efforts will change the way Indian Track-and-Field Athletes are seen on the world stage,” he said.
Mariyappan acknowledged that the difference between Rio and Tokyo Paralympics was in heavy expectations.
“Not much believes I will go and win a medal in Paralympics 2016.
But that doesn’t happen now because everyone expects a medal from me.
The aim is to come back with nothing but gold,” Mariyappan said, who won with a leap 1.89 million in Rio.