NEW DELHI: Navdeep Singh, the Paralympics gold medalist, shared a powerful story of resilience and triumph at the Paris Games. Initially securing a silver medal, Navdeep’s achievement was later upgraded to gold, marking a historic milestone in his athletic career. His remarkable performance in the men’s javelin F41 final at the 2024 Paralympic Games brought immense pride to the nation.
However, the road to his success was filled with personal challenges, which Navdeep opened up about during an emotional podcast interview.
Born with dwarfism, Navdeep endured severe criticism and societal rejection throughout his life. In the podcast, he revealed the hurtful taunts he faced because of his condition. He shared how some people went as far as to suggest that he should consider suicide, dismissing his potential and undermining his worth.
“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, recounting the harsh words he had to endure.
Instead of breaking him, these brutal comments only fueled Navdeep’s determination to prove his critics wrong. His gold medal at the Paris Paralympics wasn’t just a victory in sports, but a bold statement against discrimination and doubt.
WATCH:
However, the road to his success was filled with personal challenges, which Navdeep opened up about during an emotional podcast interview.
Born with dwarfism, Navdeep endured severe criticism and societal rejection throughout his life. In the podcast, he revealed the hurtful taunts he faced because of his condition. He shared how some people went as far as to suggest that he should consider suicide, dismissing his potential and undermining his worth.
“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, recounting the harsh words he had to endure.
Instead of breaking him, these brutal comments only fueled Navdeep’s determination to prove his critics wrong. His gold medal at the Paris Paralympics wasn’t just a victory in sports, but a bold statement against discrimination and doubt.
WATCH:
Navdeep’s triumph came when he launched the javelin to a distance of 47.32 meters in the final, clinching the prestigious gold medal. His victory silenced those who doubted his ability due to his condition.
During the podcast, Navdeep also became emotional when discussing his late father, who had been a pillar of support throughout his journey.
“Shuruwat unhone karwai thi. Har jagah saath they [He was the one who got me started. He was with me every step of the way],” Navdeep said, reflecting on his father’s impact, though he is no longer alive to witness his son’s ultimate success.