Dipa Karmakar hails Paralympic medal winners Thangavelu Mariyappan, Varun Bhati

Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who missed out on an Olympic medal by a whisker in Rio de Janeiro recently, showered praise on Thangavelu Mariyappan and Varun Singh Bhati for winning gold and bronze in the Paralympics.

Indian gymnast Dipa Karmakar, who missed out on an Olympic medal by a whisker in Rio de Janeiro recently, showered praise on Thangavelu Mariyappan and Varun Singh Bhati for winning gold and bronze in the Paralympics.

India's Mariyappan Thangavelu (L) and Bhati Varun Singh celebrate their gold and bronze medals. (AFP Photo)

“You have achieved something what I could not. I would have loved to meet both of you in person,” Dipa said in her congratulatory message.

Dipa’s coach Bishweshwar Nandi said: “Proud to be an Indian. You (Mariyappan and Bhati) have made us proud.”

India’s national anthem was finally played at the medal ceremony in Rio after 21-year-old Mariyappan of Tamil Nadu won the gold in men’s high jump T-42 event at the Paralympics by jumping a personal best of 1.89 metres.

Noida lad Bhati also secured a personal best of 1.86m in the same event to win a bronze as India for the first time had two members on the podium.