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Indian para-athlete Navdeep Singh bagged a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 category at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The Indian, who finished second after Iran’s Beit Sayah Sadegh, registered his personal best distance of 47.32 metres at the Games.
The 23-year-old para-athlete, who hails from Haryana, started the competition with a foul but came up with a 46.39m throw in his second attempt. The Indian then went on to shatter the Paralympic record with his 47.32m throw, which came in his third attempt and jumped at the top of the standings, but the Iranian bettered the record with a 47.64m throw to etch a new paralympic Games record and secure a gold for the side.
Why was Navdeep Singh’s silver was upgraded to gold at Paris 2024 Paralympic Games?
But on Saturday, September 7, the Indian para-athlete made history at the Paralympic Games as he secured the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 category, displacing the Iranian athlete. Navdeep Singh, who earlier bagged the silver, was upgraded to gold medal after the Irania athlete was disqualified for violating rule 8.1 of the World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations.
Iran’s Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag following the event. According to the International Paralympic Committee rules, athletes are prohibited from making any political gestures during the event, and Sayah was disqualified for his improper conduct.
“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 rules states.
As a result of this upgrade, Navdeep Singh secured the gold, marking India’s first-ever victory in the men’s javelin throw F41 category at the Paralympic Games.
Who is Navdeep Singh? India’s first-ever Paralympic Games gold medallist in men’s javelin throw F41 event
Hailing from Panipat, Haryana, the 24-year-old Navdeep has overcome challenges posed by his short stature to excel in sports. He completed his education at the Unique Public School and earned a B.A. in Hindi (Hons) from Delhi University. Inspired by his father, who was a national-level wrestler, Navdeep began his sports journey in athletics.
His professional coaching commenced in 2017 after which he made his international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games, where he clinched a gold. So far, he has won five gold medals at the national level. Moreover, he featured in the Fazza International Championship in Dubai in 2021, securing the gold once again.
Although he finished fourth in both Tokyo Paralympic Games and the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou and finally ended his Summer Games medal drought this time.
