In an exclusive interaction with India Today, Paralympic champion Navdeep Singh shared the inspirational journey that led him to take up javelin throw, thanks to the impact of Neeraj Chopra. Navdeep's exceptional performance at the Paris Paralympics earned him the gold medal in the men’s javelin F41 final, where he delivered a record-breaking throw of 47.32 meters. This achievement not only secured him the top podium spot but also set a new Paralympic record, marking a historic first for India in this category.
Navdeep recounted his initial introduction to javelin throw, which was sparked by watching Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable performance in 2016. “I started my journey in javelin after seeing Neeraj in 2016, when he broke the junior world record. I was casually browsing YouTube and stumbled upon a video that highlighted a young boy from Panipat setting a new world record. At that moment, I had little understanding of javelin throw, but seeing his achievement ignited a passion within me. I was faced with a choice between shot put and javelin, and I chose javelin, and from that day on, it became a central part of my life,” Navdeep explained.
The conversation also delved into Navdeep’s emotional and highly publicized celebration following his gold medal win. His reaction was not just a celebration of victory but a release of years of frustration and pent-up emotions. Despite his hard work and dedication, Navdeep had previously finished fourth in several major competitions, including the Tokyo Paralympics, the World Championships, and the Asian Games. “There was a lot of pent-up frustration for me. Despite my consistent hard work and significant achievements, I finished 4th in Tokyo, in the Paris World Championships in 2023, and in the Asian Games. I was doing everything right in terms of training and preparation, but the results weren’t reflecting that. It was a challenging period of self-doubt and confusion,” Navdeep shared.
His emotional outburst during his victory celebration in Paris was a culmination of this frustration and a powerful affirmation of his capabilities. “All that accumulated anger and frustration from not achieving the results I knew I was capable of finally came out during my celebration. Hitting my personal best and achieving gold was a way of proving to myself and to everyone that I had the talent and determination,” Navdeep added.
Navdeep Singh's gold medal was one of the 29 medals won by India at the Paris Paralympics 2024, contributing significantly to the nation’s impressive performance in the games. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the profound impact of role models in inspiring athletes to achieve their dreams.
