He got the second spot with a season-best high jump in the T42 event of 1.86m. Thangavelu has won two consecutive medals in Paralympics, first at Rio and now at Tokyo Paralympic Games.
He had won a gold medal at the Rio Paralympics. He has been awarded a Padma Shri and an Arjuna Award by the Government of India in 2017, and also with Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna in 2020.
At the Tokyo Paralympics, Mariyappan lost the gold to American Player Sam Grewe with a best attempt of 1.88m.