The Paralympic Committee of India has removed Dronacharya awardee coach Naval Singh following complaints of harassment by Paralympic champion Sumit Antil. Antil accused Singh of using abusive language, leading to the coach’s termination. The decision was confirmed by PCI Chief Devendra Jhajharia.
Sumit Antil, a two-time Paralympic Games medalist, lodged a formal complaint with the Sports Authority of India against coach Naval Singh. The complaint highlighted instances of mental harassment and verbal abuse by Singh, who also trains other athletes like Sachin Yadav.
Athletes in India raised concerns about Singh’s behavior, citing repetitive use of abusive language and mental harassment. The complaint, submitted to SAI on April 10, detailed the negative experiences faced by top athletes under Singh’s coaching. Antil, a gold medalist at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics, took a stand against the mistreatment.
Naval Singh, a Dronacharya awardee in 2015, faced allegations of verbal abuse and humiliation from athletes under his guidance. Despite his past accolades and contributions to training javelin athletes, Singh’s actions led to his dismissal by the Paralympic Committee of India.
