Mariyappan Thangavelu has been selected as Team India's flag bearer during the Tokyo Paralympics, which begins on August 24.

Thangavelu, who will defend the T-42 gold he won in the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was picked by the executive committee of the national body.

The 25-year-old Thangavelu, who was conferred with the Khel Ratna last year, is one of the 24 para-athletes picked by the selection committee for the Tokyo Paralympics.

A total of 72 para-athletes, including 18 female players, took part in the selection trials in New Delhi on June 29 and 30. India has been granted 24 slots, including four women athletes, by the World Para Athletics.

Thangavelu had won the Rio Paralympics T-42 high jump gold by clearing 1.89m. He qualified for the Tokyo Paralympics after finishing third in the T-42 high jump event at the 2019 IPC World Athletics Championships in Dubai.