Paris: After years of near-misses, Navdeep Singh has finally secured his place on the podium. At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Singh shattered previous records and expectations, winning gold in the men’s javelin throw F41 class with a remarkable throw of 47.32 meters here on Sunday.
This achievement not only earned him India’s first-ever medal in this category but also set a new Paralympic record.
Navdeep’s historic throw exceeded the previous record of 47.13 meters set by China’s Sun Pengxiang at Tokyo 2020. The competition was intense, with Iranian athlete Sadegh Beit Sayah momentarily leading with a throw of 47.64 meters. However, Beit Sayah was later disqualified for unsporting conduct, clearing the path for Navdeep’s victory.
"I didn’t expect to throw that far, to be honest," Navdeep confessed. "My target was a bit lower, but I trusted my coach and hoped for the best. I’m thrilled that it turned out so well."
The journey to gold was not without its challenges. Despite an initial foul and a few throws that fell short of his record, Navdeep’s determination and his coach’s encouragement saw him surpass 45 meters on two additional attempts. "I hope to better my performance in the future," he said, reflecting on his journey.
Sun Pengxiang, the defending champion, took silver with a best throw of 44.72 meters. Iraq’s Wildan Nukhailawi earned bronze with a throw of 40.46 meters. The F41 class, featuring athletes of shorter stature, saw Navdeep’s victory as a testament to his exceptional skill and resilience.
This triumph is particularly poignant for Navdeep, who had previously fallen just short of the podium, finishing fourth at both the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. "This medal means so much to me," he said. "After years of hard work and near victories, I’ve finally achieved a podium finish. The joy is immense."
At 23 years old, Navdeep’s victory at Paris 2024 follows a bronze medal at the World Para Athletics Championships earlier this year. His gold is India’s 29th medal at the ongoing Paralympics and the 17th in para athletics.
In other javelin throw events, Sumit Antil won gold in the F64 class, while Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar secured silver and bronze in the F46 class, respectively. These achievements highlight a remarkable era for Indian Paralympic sports.