At the Paralympics in Paris on Saturday, javelin thrower Navdeep Singh won a gold medal in the F41 classification.
At the Paris Paralympics on Saturday, javelin thrower Navdeep Singh won a gold medal in the F41 classification. Although it was India’s seventh gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics and its 16th overall, Navdeep felt that the top honor was much more than that. Due to his dwarfism, Navdeep had to grow up in his village in the Panipat area of Haryana, where he was subjected to cruel comments from bystanders in addition to the normal rigours of training. And he proved his tenacity and resolve on Saturday by winning the gold medal. It would inspire not just him but also a great number of other individuals with special needs who experienced a similar outcome.
For Navdeep, who stands four feet four inches tall, the taunts of “Bauna (dwarf)” were extremely popular in his town.
“We should be treated with the same respect, as I have also contributed to the glory of our country,” Navdeep declared, waving his gold medal in a video released by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
“My goal is to teach society that, despite our existence, no one should make fun of us, as is frequently the case. We can also bring honor to our nation.The 23-year-old Indian javelin thrower won an unprecedented gold in the F41 classification at the Paris Paralympic Games. It was a defining moment for Navdeep, who silenced all his doubters. “There were a lot of hurdles initially but I kept at it and strengthened myself, which led to good results. This is the biggest moment of my life, I feel proud to sign off with a gold medal,” he added. Navdeep had initially won a silver, which was later upgraded to gold after Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah was disqualified for repeatedly flashing an offensive flag after a dramatic men’s javelin throw final.
For Navdeep, who stands four feet four inches tall, the taunts of “Bauna (dwarf)” were extremely popular in his town.
“We should be treated with the same respect, as I have also contributed to the glory of our country,” Navdeep declared, waving his gold medal in a video released by the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI).
“My goal is to teach society that, despite our existence, no one should make fun of us, as is frequently the case. We can also bring honor to our nation.
