In Tamil Nadu, it was a hero's welcome for Rio Paralympic gold medal winner Mariappan Thangavelu at his home town in Salem today. Mariappan had created history by clearing 1.89 metres in high jump bagging gold in Rio paralympics games in Brazil. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalaithaa had announced a cash prize of two crore rupees for him. <br/><br/>More from AIR correspondent:-<br/>"Salem Periavadagampatti village had a festive look welcoming paralympic gold medal winner Mariappan. True to the word Divyang , Mariappan competed against his own disability and with confidence crossed the barriers in life. No wonder thousands thronged the Salem streets when he was taken in an open jeep to his native village. Crackers were burst all through the way from Thoppur and children came forward to shook hands with their new hero. Sweets were distributed and each home in Salem was celebrating the homecoming of their golden son Thankamagan Mariappan. It was a bus accident that changed the destiny of a small boy as his right foot was crushed. Poverty didn't deter him from studying BBA in Salem AVS college. Athletic coach Satyanarayana identified his talent and gave him intensified training in Bengaluru."