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Paralympic medal winners to be recommended for Padma awards

September 23, 2016 16:00 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with silver medal winner Deepa Malik

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with silver medal winner Deepa Malik. Photograph: Twitter

In a bid to give increased recognition to their achievements, the medallists from the Rio Paralympics will be recommended for the Padma awards this year by the Sports Ministry.

"Sports Ministry will recommend the names of our star #Paralympians to the Ministry of Home Affairs for the prestigious #PadmaAwards," Sports Minister Vijay Goel announced on his Twitter page.

India won four medals -- two gold, a silver and a bronze -- at the Paralympics in Rio earlier this month.

Thangavelu Mariyappan (High Jump) and Devendra Jhajharia (Javelin Throw) won gold medals, while Deepa Malik (Shot put) had claimed a silver. Varun Singh Bhati (High Jump) had won a bronze medal.