New Delhi: 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.


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"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. (READ: PM Narendra Modi meets Rio Paralympics stars, extols champions for making nation proud)


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.


The para-athletes were welcomed warmly on their return from Rio and were hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.