Initially, Navdeep had finished second behind Iranian Beit Sayah Sadegh, who had set a Paralympic Games record of 47.65 metres.
However, the Iranian athlete was disqualified for violating rule 8.1 of the World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations.
HOW SILVER CHANGED TO GOLD
Navdeep’s silver medal was upgraded to gold after initial winner Iran’s Sayah was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an objectionable flag following a dramatic men’s javelin throw F41 final.
WHAT RULES SAY
According to International Paralympic Committee rules, athletes are prohibited from making political gestures during the event, and Sayah was disqualified for unsporting and improper conduct.
“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, officials, and administrators, have a responsibility to uphold these standards and ensure that the sport is conducted in a fair, honest, and transparent manner.”
As a result, Navdeep was awarded the gold medal, marking India’s first-ever victory in the Men’s Javelin F41 category at the Paralympic Games.
During the competition, Navdeep started with a foul before throwing the spear 46.39 metres on his second attempt. He then improved his distance to 47.32 metres in the third round. After another foul, he managed 46.06 metres and ended his campaign with a final foul.
China’s Sun Pengxiang claimed the silver medal with a throw of 44.72m, while Iraq’s Wildan Nukhailawi was upgraded to bronze with a distance of 40.46m.
NAVDEEP’S INCREDIBLE JOURNEY
Hailing from Panipat, Haryana, the 24-year-old Navdeep has overcome the challenges posed by his short stature to excel in sports.
He completed his education at Unique Public School and earned a B.A. in Hindi (Hons.) from Delhi University. Inspired by his father, a national-level wrestler, Navdeep began his sports journey in athletics before focusing solely on javelin throw.
He received professional coaching in 2017 and made his international debut at the Asian Youth Para Games, where he won the gold medal.
Navdeep has won five gold medals at the national level and participated in the Fazza International Championship in Dubai in 2021, where he secured the gold medal.
Despite finishing fourth in both the Tokyo Paralympic Games and the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, Navdeep’s determination and skill have now earned him a well-deserved gold medal at the Paralympic Games.