India’s gold medallist from the Paralympics 2024, Navdeep Singh, recently opened up on his harrowing past when he was asked to suicide by everyone. Navdeep scripted history in Paris as he won a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 event with a throw of 47.32 metres.
However, Navdeep’s path to Paralympic success wasn’t just about sports. It was also a personal journey filled with challenges that shaped his determination. During an emotional podcast interview, Navdeep opened up about the deep struggles he had to overcome, both on and off the field.
Personal Life
Navdeep Singh hails from Panipat, Haryana, India on 11 november 2000. His father was a farmer in the village and also ran a milk dairy in the city. Navdeep finished his schooling at Unique Public School and later attended Delhi University, where he earned a B.A. Honours degree in Hindi.
Born with dwarfism, Navdeep faced intense criticism and societal rejection throughout his life. He spoke about how his condition made him a target for cruel remarks, which deeply affected him. But despite being only 4 feet 4 inches tall, the athlete from Haryana has achieved so much that everyone is amazed by his perseverance and hard work.
Career
Navdeep’s journey started with a strong love for sports, even though he had a disability. Despite facing doubt from others, he worked hard and trained under tough conditions. One of his major highlights was finishing on the podium at an important international event, making a big mark on Indian para-athletics. In 2017, Singh won the gold medal for India in the men’s javelin F41 event at Asian Youth Para Games, Dubai. He proceeded to win the gold medal at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2021 in Dubai.
Singh finished fourth in javelin throw F41 at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. He won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympic. He is also a Income tax inspector. In 2015, Navdeep Singh received the Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, an award given to children for outstanding achievements in different areas, including sports. The award was presented to him by the then-President of India, Pranab Mukherjee.
Medal and Achievements of Navdeep
| Medal | Event | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | U20 World Para Athletics Championship | 2019 |
| FAZZA, Dubai Grand Prix | 2021 | |
| Desert Challenge Cup, USA | 2022 | |
| Paris Paralympics | 2024 | |
| Silver | Marrakech Grand Prix | 2022 |
| Bronze | World Para Athletics Championship | 2024 |
| Other Achievements | 4th place at the Tokyo Paralympics | 2020 |
| 4th place at Asian Para Games | 2022 |
In an interview, Navdeep shared a deeply emotional story when asked what drives him to perform so well. He revealed that, at one point, people told him to take his own life, saying he wouldn’t be able to achieve anything because of his condition.
“Aapko kya lagta hai hume hausla kaha se aata hai? Jab wo bolte hain ki tu kuch nahi kar sakta. Isse acha to tu suicide kar le. Ye kya jeewan hai tera [Where do you think we get our courage from? When they say you can’t do anything. It’s better if you just commit suicide. What kind of life is this for you?],” Navdeep recalled, during Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast.
