Tokyo Paralympics: Mariyappan replaced as India‘s flagbearer hours before opening ceremony

Mariyappan

Mariyappan Thangavelu has been replaced by javelin thrower (F-54 category) Tek Chand as India's flag bearer for the Tokyo Paralympics, which gets underway today.
Mariyappan, 26, has been replaced on the advice by the organising committee after the Rio Paralympics gold medallist long jumper came in close contact with a COVID-19 foreign patient en route to Tokyo, according to the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).

"Though on reaching the Games Village, he has been tested for six days and all his reports have come negative, the Organising Committee has advised not to let Mariyaapan participate in the opening ceremony," PCI informed.

Tek Chand

Mariyappan, in a chat with mid-day on Sunday, was thrilled to lead the 54-member Indian contingent at the opening ceremony. "I am super-excited to carry India's flag at the opening ceremony. I had wished to be the flagbearer at the Olympics and here I am thrilled to be given the honours," Mariyappan had said.

His coach R Satyanarayana, who spotted Mariyappan at the 2013 para Nationals, had specially requested the PCI to pick his ward as the flagbearer for extra motivation and additional responsibility.

Since his ankle surgery in 2018, Mariyappan has been low on confidence due to the long layoff, his coach had said.

Satyanarayana said today that Mariyappan has no symptoms and no issues while training. "He came in close contact with a COVID positive patient on the flight from New Delhi. As a precaution, Mariyappan and six others who have been identified as close contacts, will be in quarantine," the coach remarked.

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