Paris Paralympics 2024 Para-Athletics: Navdeep Singh’s silver medal in men’s javelin throw F41 upgraded to gold after Beit Sayah's disqualification

In a surprising twist, the silver medal won by India’s Navdeep Singh in the Paris Paralympics 2024 para-athletics men’s javelin throw F41 event has been upgraded to a gold medal after the erstwhile gold medalist Sadegh Beit Sayah of Iran was disqualified from the event.

Beit Sayah, who had earlier topped the Paris Paralympics 2024 para-athletics men’s javelin throw F41 final with a new Paralympic record throw of 47.64m, was disqualified for breaching rule 8.1 of the International Paralympic Committee’s code of conduct, which deals with ‘unsporting or improper conduct’.

The veteran Iranian para-athlete allegedly displayed a political flag during his medal celebration, which resulted in his disqualification. He had earlier received a yellow card during the final for ‘unsportsmanlike behavior’.

As a result, Navdeep, who had earlier finished second with a personal-best throw of 47.32m, was moved up to first place and awarded the gold medal.

China’s Sun Pengxiang, the current world record holder, will take home the silver medal with a best throw of 44.72m, and Iraq’s Wildan Nukhailawi clinched the bronze medal with a best throw of 40.46m.

The shocking twist means that India has won its seventh gold medal at the ongoing Paris Paralympics 2024, taking the country to 16th place in the overall medal tally.

It will also be a massive moment for 23-year-old Haryana-native Navdeep Singh, who won his first Paralympic gold medal at the Stade de France after finishing fourth in the Tokyo Paralympics 2020.

Despite having won only one international medal so far in the 2024 World Championships in Kobe, Navdeep has shocked everybody by clinching the top prize in the Paris Paralympics 2024 para-athletics men’s javelin throw F41 event on Saturday.

Paris Paralympics 2024 Para-Athletics Men’s Javelin Throw F41 Final Full Updated Results

Navdeep (India) – 47.32
Sun Pengxiang (People's Republic of China) – 44.72
Wildan Nukhailawi (Iraq) – 40.46
Ye Kah Michel (Côte d'Ivoire) – 37.69
Ever Rene Castro Martinez (Cuba) – 34.34

Sadegh Beit Sayah (Islamic Republic of Iran) – Disqualified (R8.1 Unsporting or improper conduct)