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 Paralympic Games.
Despite facing severe 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.
Singh’s personal best throw of 47.32 meters initially placed him in second position.
However, his ranking was upgraded to gold after the top finisher, Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah, was disqualified for displaying an objectionable flag.
Reflecting on his achievement, Singh expressed his 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.
Singh’s early life
Born prematurely in 2000, Singh’s battle with dwarfism began early in life, with his parents realizing his condition when he was just two years old.
His father, Dalbir Singh, a national-level wrestler, was crucial in motivating him to pursue sports.
Navdeep began his athletic journey at age 10, exploring wrestling and sprinting before focusing on javelin throw, inspired by Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra.
Despite early successes, including gold medals at the Asian Youth Para Games and the Fazza International Championship in Dubai, Singh’s journey was not without setbacks.
He finished fourth at the Tokyo Paralympics and the Asian Para Games and won bronze at the World Para Athletics Championship in 2024, facing criticism along the way.
“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.
For six years, Singh trained relentlessly, often staying away from home and living under challenging conditions 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.
As the Indian national anthem echoed through Stade de France, it marked not just a victory for Singh, but a triumph for every para-athlete who continues to fight for respect and recognition.
“I will work harder from now on and will try to win more gold medals for India,” Singh concluded.