The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) acted swiftly on Sunday, dismissing celebrated coach Naval Singh after Paralympic javelin star Sumit Antil accused him of harassment. Devendra Jhajharia, PCI chief and Paralympic legend, informed that the board unanimously approved the termination.
Antil, who clinched gold at both Tokyo and Paris Paralympics, detailed his ordeal in a formal letter to SAI on April 10. He described enduring constant verbal abuse, insults, and mental torment from Singh, who also trains promising athlete Sachin Yadav. Even mediation efforts by senior SAI personnel failed as Antil rejected any compromise.
Backed by javelin icon Neeraj Chopra and other elite athletes, the complaint painted a grim picture of coaching practices that prioritized intimidation over inspiration. Yadav’s recent fourth-place finish at the World Championships, surpassing Chopra, added context to Singh’s influential yet controversial role.
Singh’s 2015 Dronacharya honor recognized his contributions to nurturing young throwers and mentoring coaches. However, the allegations exposed cracks in oversight mechanisms within para-sports governance.
As PCI enforces this accountability measure, it sends a strong message to the community: athlete safety trumps accolades. This development could reshape training dynamics, encouraging coaches to adopt empathetic approaches while athletes like Antil gear up for future triumphs.
