 "Navdeep Singh is first Indian to win gold in men's javelin throw F41 event at Paralympics. Image: Naveen Patnaik on X")
Navdeep Singh won a historic gold for India on Saturday as the country inched closer to 30 medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024. India’s previous best was 19 medals which came in 2021 at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. 29 medals is a massive improvement in that aspect. Navdeep is the first Indian to win gold in the men’s javelin F41 category.
The F41 category is for athletes with short stature.
Paris Paralympics 2024: News | Medal Tally | India Schedule
With a personal best of 47.32 , Navdeep initially was in the second spot after the completion of the event and was set for a silver medal, but the disqualification of gold medal winner Sadegh Beit Sayah of Iran due to “Unsporting or improper conduct” led to the Indian taking the top spot on the podium.
Sayah had won the competition with a throw of 47.32m which was the new Paralympic record before he was disqualified. The Iranian violated Rule 8.1 of the World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations (Code of Conduct and Ethics).
“World Para Athletics (WPA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and conduct in the sport of Para athletics. All participants in the sport, including athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators, have a responsibility to uphold these standards and ensure that the sport is conducted in a fair, honest, and transparent manner,” the 8.1 rule of World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations Code of Conducts stated.
The WPA has not clarified the exact improper conduct that led to his disqualification, it was confirmed by India’s para-athletics head coach Satyanarayana that it was due to a black flag with Arabic text that the athlete was seen sporting during the competition.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNonetheless, Sayah’s disqualification worked in India’s favour as Navdeep became the country’s seventh gold medallist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
Who is Navdeep Singh?
The 23-year-old para-athlete hails from Panipat, Haryana, and has overcome the challenges of his short stature to excel in the world of sports. Born with a short stature and despite being ridiculed for it, four feet four inches tall Navdeep did not let it deter him from pursuing his passion for athletics.
“Navdeep would lock himself in a room and would not get out of the house for days. All the neighbourhood kids teased him about his height and would call him Bauna,” Mandeep Sheoran, Navdeep’s elder brother, told The Indian Express.
Navdeep completed his education at Unique Public School and Delhi University, where he studied B.A. Hindi (Hons.). He was inspired by his father, who was a national-level wrestler and a Gram Sachiv. Navdeep is employed as an Inspector in the Income Tax Department in Bengaluru, showcasing his dedication to both his career and athletic pursuits.
Initially, Navdeep started his sports journey in athletics before only focusing on javelin throw. He received professional coaching in 2017 and made his international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games that year, where he won the gold medal in the javelin throw. Navdeep has won five gold medals at the national level.
In 2021, Navdeep participated in the Fazza International Championship in Dubai and secured the gold medal. Navdeep’s achievements are a testament to his hard work, determination, and the support he has received from his family and coaches.
Navddeep Singh’s key details
Date of birth: November 11, 2000
Home location: Panipat, Haryana
Training base: SAI Gandhinagar and SAI Bangalore
Achievement
Tokyo Paralympics (2020) - 4th position
Asian Para Games (2022) - 4th position
World Para Athletics Championship (2024)- Bronze medal
U20 World Para Athletics Championship (2019)- Gold medal
Desert Challenge Cup, USA (2022) - Gold Medal
Marrakech Grand Prix (2022) - Silver medal
FAZZA, Dubai Grand Prix (2021) - Gold medal
Key Government intervention
Financial assistance for equipment
Financial assistance for training and competition
Financial assistance for expert service
Training facility including boarding and lodging at SAI Bangalore and Gandhinagar
Out of pocket allowance under TOPS