In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris Paralympics, India’s Navdeep Singh has been awarded the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 final after Iranian athlete Beit Sayah Sadegh was disqualified. This victory marks India’s first-ever gold in the men’s javelin F41 category.
A Stunning Performance
Navdeep had a rocky start with a foul on his first attempt but made an impressive comeback with a 46.39-meter throw in his second attempt. His third throw, a massive 47.32 meters, broke the Paralympic record and put him in the lead. However, Sadegh of Iran surpassed this with a 47.64-meter throw in his fifth attempt, seemingly securing the gold.
Disqualification Changes the Game
Shortly after the event, the Iranian athlete was disqualified for repeatedly displaying an offensive flag, a violation of International Paralympic Committee (IPC) rules, which prohibit political gestures. This disqualification promoted Navdeep to the gold medal position.
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A Historic Win for India
With this victory, Navdeep Singh not only clinched his first Paralympic gold but also avenged his fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Games. His achievement is even more remarkable considering he only started competing in 2017 and has already won five national medals and a bronze at the Para-World Championships earlier this year.
The silver medal went to China’s Sun Pengxiang, the world record holder, with a throw of 44.72 meters, while Iraq’s Nukhailawi Wildan claimed the bronze with a 40.46-meter throw. The F41 category is for athletes with short stature, adding to the diversity and competitiveness of the event.
