Navdeep Singh, a 23-year-old javelin thrower from Panipat, Haryana, made history on Saturday by winning gold in the F41 classification at the Paris Paralympics. Despite facing significant challenges due to his dwarfism, Singh’s determination and hard work led him to triumph on the sport’s grandest stage, turning years of taunts into a moment of national pride.
Navdeep Singh’s personal best throw of 47.32 meters initially placed him in second position. However, his ranking was upgraded to gold after Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah, the top finisher, was disqualified for displaying an objectionable flag. Reflecting on his achievement, Singh voiced concerns about the disrespect often faced by individuals with disabilities.
“Humein bhi utna darja milna chahiye, maine bhi desh ka naam roshan kiya hai (We deserve the same respect; I too have brought glory to the country),” Singh said in a video shared by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
“My aim is to educate society that we also exist in this world and nobody should make fun of us, which is often the case,” he added.
A life full of challenges for Navdeep
Born prematurely in 2000, Singh’s battle with dwarfism began early, with his parents realizing his condition when he was just two years old. His father, Dalbir Singh, a national-level wrestler, played a crucial role in motivating him to pursue sports.
Navdeep began his athletic journey at the age of 10, experimenting with wrestling and sprinting before finding his passion in javelin throw, inspired by Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra. Despite achieving early success, including gold medals at the Asian Youth Para Games and the Fazza International Championship in Dubai, Singh’s journey was far from easy.
Setbacks Nadeep faced in his early life
Singh faced several setbacks along the way. He finished fourth at both the Tokyo Paralympics and the Asian Para Games, and won bronze at the World Para Athletics Championship in 2024. His performances drew criticism.
“I suffered a lot, so I wanted to achieve something for my country. I heard things like, ‘He can’t do this, he only performs well in India, but fails in competition.’ I just had to ignore all this,” Singh said.
Tough training for Navdeep and overcoming challenges
For six years, Singh trained relentlessly, often staying away from home and living in challenging conditions. He shared this journey with his friend and roommate, Sumit Antil, who also won gold in the F64 category at the Paris Games.
“We used to stay together; we are good friends and roommates. Initially, we would eat outside but ended up with upset stomachs, so we started cooking for ourselves,” Singh recalled.
I will work harder
As the Indian national anthem echoed through Stade de France, it symbolised not just Singh’s personal victory, but also a triumph for every para-athlete striving for respect and recognition. “I will work harder from now on and will try to win more gold medals for India,” Singh concluded.
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