Navdeep Singh: From Javelin gold to Shot Put dreams after Los Angeles 2028 snub

Navdeep Singh won a gold medal in Men’s Javelin Throw F41 at the Paris 2024 Paralympics (Reuters Photo)

For Navdeep Singh, the Paris 2024 Paralympics gold medallist in Men’s Javelin Throw F41, the New Delhi 2025 World Para Athletics Championships was meant to be a celebration of homecoming. Competing at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Navdeep delivered a season-best effort of 45.46m (season best) to claim the silver medal. The crowd roared with every throw, and he responded with his trademark aggression and enthusiasm.

“This is my Diwali gift,” he said with a smile, speaking exclusively after the event. “There was a lot of love and support from the people. I’m thankful to everyone who came to cheer. The season has ended well — there’s always room for improvement, and I’ll work on that next year.”

But even amid the joy of a home medal, a shadow looms over Navdeep’s future. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in June announced the event lineup for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games — and the Men’s Javelin Throw F41, Navdeep’s event, has been dropped from the programme. “Yes, it’s disappointing,” he said in a previous conversation after the announcement. “Right now, I’m focusing on the World Championships and what’s ahead. We’ll see what happens next.”

Though he finished on the podium at the World Championships, the decision has shaken India’s para-athletics community, because not only Navdeep, Yogesh Kathuniya’s discus F56 has also lost its spot for the LA28 Games.

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“I remember my old days when no one knew about javelin or cared much,” he said. “Now there’s love from across the country. That motivates me to keep going.”

Determined not to let the setback define him, Navdeep is already adapting. Under the guidance of his coach, Sunil Tanwar, he has begun training in shot put alongside javelin — an event that remains part of the LA28 Paralympic programme. His aim is to prepare for the 2026 Asian Para Games in Nagoya-Aichi, Japan, where he hopes to compete in both events.

“We have only shot put and javelin in our category. I’ll try to participate in both,” he said. “It will help me stay competitive and keep improving.”

India’s Paralympics movement has seen a positive curve in recent years. After the most successful campaigns in the Hangzhou Asian Para Games 2023 (111 medals), Paris Paralympics 2024 (29 medals), the contingent has produced the best-ever Para Athletics World Championships campaign in New Delhi with 22 medals.

Whether a formal protest from participating countries will be lodged through the PCI to push for the reinstatement of the Javelin F41 event at the LA28 Paralympics remains uncertain. But for Navdeep, the path ahead is clear — he will continue working on both javelin and shot put in the build-up to the 2026 Asian Para Games. That way, if his primary event isn’t brought back, he’ll be fully prepared to represent India in shot put in Los Angeles.