New Delhi, April 19: The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has dismissed renowned coach Naval Singh following harassment allegations made by Paralympic champion Sumit Antil. PCI President Devendra Jhajharia confirmed this decision on Sunday.
Antil, a two-time Paralympic medalist, accused Singh of harassment and using inappropriate language, leading him to file a complaint with the Sports Authority of India (SAI). He received support from Neeraj Chopra, the gold medalist javelin thrower from the Tokyo Olympics.
Top athletes in the country submitted a written complaint to SAI, alleging that Singh engaged in mental harassment and frequently used offensive language. Singh has been training Sachin Yadav, who secured fourth place in the 2025 World Championships, ahead of Neeraj.
The written complaint was submitted to SAI on April 10, after the issue was raised before officials from both SAI and PCI.
Sumit Antil, who won gold medals at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics, was the first athlete to bring this issue to light. He stated that he had complained about Singh’s behavior to SAI Deputy Director Arunlal and TOPS CEO Naresh Johal.
According to Antil, SAI officials attempted to mediate between both parties, but the Paralympic gold medalist rejected the proposal. He alleged that he faced verbal abuse, humiliation, and mental harassment from the experienced coach, prompting him to seek action.
Naval Singh, who received the Dronacharya Award in 2015, has played a significant role in training national-level javelin throwers and mentoring young coaches.
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