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Once ridiculed for his height, income tax inspector wins India’s seventh gold at 2024 Paralympics – Firstpost

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Navdeep Singh, who won India’s seventh gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, is posted as an inspector in the Income Tax Department in Bengaluru.
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Navdeep Singh won a historic gold for India on Saturday as the country moved closer to 30 medals at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. India’s previous best was 19 medals, which they won at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics. The 29 medals is a huge improvement in that department. Navdeep is the first Indian to win a gold in the men’s F41 javelin throw category.

Category F41 is intended for short athletes.

Paris 2024 Paralympics: News | Medals Summary | India Schedule

With a personal best of 47.32 seconds, Navdeep was initially in second place at the end of the event and was poised for a silver medal, but the disqualification of gold medal winner Sadegh Beit Sayah of Iran for “unsportsmanlike or improper conduct” left the Indian on the top step of the podium.

Sayah won the event with a throw of 47.32m, a new Paralympic record, before being disqualified. The Iranian had breached Rule 8.1 of the World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations (Code of Conduct and Ethics).

“World Para Athletics (WPA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, ethics and conduct in the sport of para athletics. All participants in the sport, including athletes, coaches, referees and administrators, have a responsibility to uphold these standards and ensure that the sport is conducted in a fair, honest and transparent manner,” states Rule 8.1 of the World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations Code of Conduct.

The WPA did not explain exactly what misconduct led to the disqualification. Indian para-athletics coach Satyanarayana confirmed that the reason for the disqualification was a black flag with Arabic writing that was seen during the competition.

Nevertheless, Sayah’s disqualification worked in India’s favour as Navdeep became the country’s seventh gold medalist at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Who is Navdeep Singh?

The 23-year-old para-athlete hails from Panipat in Haryana and overcame the challenges of his short stature to excel in the world of sports. He was born with a short stature and despite being ridiculed for it, the four-foot-four-inch Navdeep did not let that stop him from pursuing his passion for sports.

“Navdeep would lock himself in his room and not come out of the house for days. All the neighbourhood kids would tease him about his height and call him Bauna,” Mandeep Sheoran, Navdeep’s elder brother, told The Indian Express.

Navdeep completed his schooling from Unique Public School and Delhi University, where he studied BA Hindi (Hons.). He was inspired by his father, who was a national level wrestler and Gram Sachiv. Navdeep is employed as an inspector in the Income Tax Department, Bengaluru, which shows his dedication towards both his career and sports activities.

Navdeep initially started his sports journey in track and field before focusing solely on javelin throw. In 2017, he got professional coaching and made his international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games, where he won a gold medal in javelin throw. Navdeep has won five gold medals at the national level.

In 2021, Navdeep participated in the Fazza International Championship in Dubai and won the gold medal. Navdeep’s achievements are a testimony to his hard work, determination and the support he received from his family and coaches.

Key Details About Navddeep Singh

Date of birth: November 11, 2000
Location of the house: Panipat, Haryana
Training base: SAI Gandhinagar and SAI Bangalore

Achievement

  • Tokyo Paralympic Games (2020) – 4th place

  • Asian Paralympic Games (2022) – 4th place

  • World Para Athletics Championships (2024) – bronze medal

  • World U20 Pairs Athletics Championships (2019) – gold medal

  • Desert Challenge Cup, USA (2022) – Gold Medal

  • Marrakesh Grand Prix (2022) – silver medal

  • FAZZA, Dubai Grand Prix (2021) – Gold medal

Key government intervention

  • Financial assistance for equipment

  • Financial aid for training and competitions

  • Financial assistance for expert services

  • Training facility with accommodation and meals in SAI Bangalore and Gandhinagar

  • Own allowance within TOPS