PM Modi congratulates Paralympian Devendra Jhajharia for winning gold

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Paralympian Devendra Jhajharia who won gold in the men's javelin throw, F46 event at the Rio.

Prime Minister Modi took to his twitter handle to wish Jhajharia.

"Congratulations to Devendra Jhajharia for the historic and well-deserved Gold at the Paralympics. We are very proud of him."

Jhajharia is the second participant to win gold at Rio Paralympics 2016 after Mariyappan Thangavelu in the men's high jump-T42 finals.

Jhajharia's gold is only India's fourth in Paralympics history. Earlier, swimmer Murlikant Petkar won gold in the 1972 Games and Jhajharia himself had won gold in Athens 2004.

He improved his own 2004 record of 62.15 metres, with a world-record throw of 63.97 meters. He secured gold medal in the javelin event at the 2004 Athens Paralympics.

The 36-year-old athlete with an amputated left hand was awarded the Arjuna award and the Padma Shri in 2004 and 2012 respectively.

Jhajharia took India's tally at this edition of the Paralympics to four medals -two golds, one silver and a bronze.