Mariyappan came in contact with Kovid infected person, now Tek Chand will be the flag bearer in the opening ceremony
Tokyo Paralympics Opening Ceremony: Para high jumper Mariyappan Thangavelu will not participate in the opening ceremony of the Para Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo this evening. Javelin thrower Tek Chand will now be the flag bearer of the Indian team in his place. During his flight from India to Tokyo, Mariyappan had come in close contact with a Covid positive foreign traveller. However, after reaching here, his Kovid report of the last six days has come negative. Despite this, the organizing committee of the Tokyo Para Olympics does not want to take any risk and has advised Mariyappan not to be a part of the opening ceremony today. Along with Mariyappan, five other athletes of the team have also come in contact with this Kovid infected person.
Rio Para Olympics gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu is isolated along with five other Indians. India’s discus throw athlete Vinod Kumar will also not be able to take part in the opening ceremony due to the same reasons. Gursharan, India’s head of mission and general secretary of the Paralympic Committee of India, said, “We have just received information from the Tokyo Paralympic Kovid Control Room that six of our paraathletes have come in contact with a Kovid infected person during their journey from India to Tokyo. Out of these six Mariyappan and Vinod Kumar were found to be the closest contacts. It is regrettable that Mariyappan would not be able to attend the inauguration ceremony while he was the flag bearer. Tek Chand will now take over as the flag bearer in his place.”
Mariyappan and Vinod will participate in the games
India’s mission chief Gursharan Singh, however, said both Mariyappan and Vinod would participate in their events as they tested negative. Let us inform that Mariyappan had won the gold medal in the T-42 category of high jump at the Rio Paralympics, and this time also the country is expected to get a gold medal from him. Javelin throw athlete Tekchand, powerlifter Jaideep and Sakina Khatoon were earlier included in the opening ceremony along with Mariyappan and Vinod. Apart from this, 6 officers are also involved in the opening ceremony.
The third team of Indian players has arrived here on Monday and are currently in Quarantine. In such a situation, now India may have to attend this opening ceremony along with three athletes and six officials.
Opening Ceremony will start from 4.30 pm
The opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games will start at 4.30 pm Indian time. In these games, which will run till September 5, 54 para-athletes will participate in 9 different sports events from India.
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