Paris: India’s Navdeep Singh’s silver medal was upgraded to gold after initial winner Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag following a dramatic men’s javelin throw F41 final at the Paris Paralympics Saturday.
This is India’s first-ever gold medal in the men’s javelin F41 category.
The 23-year-old para-athlete from Haryana, who had finished fourth at the Tokyo Games three years ago, produced a personal best effort of 47.32m to claim the top position.
Navdeep, who competes in the classification meant for athletes of short stature, originally ended with a silver after he upstaged world record holder Sun Pengxiang of China with a 47.32m throw.
However, that was upgraded to an unprecedented gold after Sadegh’s disqualification. Pengxiang (44.72m) finished with a silver.
Sayah had managed to nose ahead of the field with a new Paralympic record of 47.64m in his penultimate throw but lost the medal owing to his antics.
The International Paralympic Committee rules bar athletes from making any political gestures at the event and Sayah was thrown out of the final results for unsporting/improper conduct.
Iraq’s Nukhailawi Wildan (40.46) claimed the bronze medal.
Starting the competition with a foul, Navdeep, who entered the event with a personal best of 44.29 metres and a season best of 42.82 metres, came up with a throw of 46.39 metres in his second attempt, propelling him to the second place. But it was his third throw that electrified the stadium.
With a monstrous throw of 47.32 metres, Navdeep shattered the Paralympic record and surged into lead, only for Sadegh to better the Indian’s mark with an effort of 47.64 metres in his fifth attempt.
Navdeep’s Journey: From adversity to international podium
Born in Panipat, Haryana, Navdeep faced challenges from the start but he refused to let his condition define him.
Inspired by his father, a national-level wrestler and Gram Sachiv, Navdeep channelled his passion into athletics, overcoming societal expectations and physical limitations.
After completing his education at Unique Public School and earning a B.A. in Hindi (Hons.) from Delhi University, Navdeep’s commitment to sports only grew stronger.
His career took a decisive turn in 2017, when he began professional coaching and made his international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games, where he won gold in the javelin throw.
The victory marked a turning point, proving that his determination and grit could overcome any challenge. Navdeep went on to claim five national gold medals and secured an international gold at the 2021 Fazza International Championship in Dubai.
Despite setbacks at the Tokyo Paralympics and the Asian Para Games in 2022, where he finished fourth, Navdeep, who serves as an inspector in the Income Tax Department in Bengaluru, rebounded by earning bronze at the World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, earlier this year.
PTI