Javelin thrower Tek Chand acted as the flagbearer of India at the opening ceremony of the 16th Summer Paralympic Games which was held today at the empty National Stadium in Tokyo, like the Summer Olympic Games, due to pandemic. Tek Chand replaced 2016 Rio Paralympic Games gold medalist Mariyappan Thangavelu as the latter was exposed to a COVID-19 carrier.
During his flight from Delhi to Tokyo, Mariyappan came in close contact with a COVID-19 patient. Mariyappan was tested for COVID-19 over the last six days, and the reports were negative. He will have no trouble training and competing in his event (mens high jump T-63).
Meanwhile, Japanese Emperor Naruhito declared the Paralympics open in the presence of Douglas Emhoff, husband of US Vice President Kamala Harris, International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons and International Olympic President Thomas Bach.