Paralympic committee of India terminates coach Naval Singh after harassment allegations

The Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) has terminated javelin coach Naval Singh with immediate effect following serious allegations of harassment and verbal abuse made by top para-athletes.

The action comes after multiple athletes, including two-time Paralympic medallist Sumit Antil and Navdeep Singh, submitted a formal complaint to the Sports Authority of India (SAI). The complaint reportedly accused the coach of repeated mental harassment and use of abusive language.

The written complaint was filed on April 10 after the issue had already been raised with officials from both SAI and PCI. Athletes alleged that the coach’s behaviour had crossed acceptable limits, with instances of verbal abuse becoming frequent, particularly during competition periods.

Antil, who took the lead in escalating the matter, indicated that he had tried to resolve the issue earlier but eventually lost patience due to repeated incidents. He reportedly stated that the coach would send inappropriate and abusive messages, sometimes targeting athletes’ families.

The complaint is said to include audio recordings in which the coach is allegedly heard using offensive language not only towards Indian athletes but also referencing international competitors, including Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem.

Antil further claimed that he had approached senior SAI officials, including a deputy director and TOPS leadership, seeking intervention. While a reconciliation attempt was reportedly made, the athlete declined to settle the matter informally.

The athletes also highlighted that the language used by the coach was deeply disrespectful, extending to personal remarks about family members and fellow athletes such as Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra and others.

Chopra is understood to have expressed support for the complainants, stating in communication that strict action was necessary and emphasizing that sport should uphold values of dignity, discipline, and respect.

Despite earlier complaints, Antil alleged that no concrete action had been taken until now, prompting athletes to push for stronger measures.

Following these developments, PCI moved to terminate Naval Singh, signaling a stricter stance against misconduct and reinforcing the importance of athlete welfare and respectful conduct within Indian sports.