Asian Para Games gold medallist Neeraj Yadav dies by suicide

Three-time Asian Para Games javelin throw champion Neeraj Yadav died by suicide at his flat on Tuesday, national chief para-athletics coach S. Satyanarayana confirmed.

"Yes, Neeraj has died by suicide at his flat. This is extremely unfortunate and tragic. The cause behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained," Satyanarayana told IANS on Wednesday.

Neeraj, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, was one of India’s accomplished para-athletes. He began his athletics career in 2015 after spending around seven years playing wheelchair tennis. His breakthrough came at the 2015 Delhi State Athletics Meet, where he won gold medals in the shot put, javelin and discus events.

In 2016, he secured silver medals in the men’s shot put and discus throw in the F55 category at the Fazza Grand Prix. He rose to prominence at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia, winning gold in the men’s javelin F55 event with an Asian record throw of 29.84 metres.

At the 2022 Asian Para Games, held in Hangzhou, China, in October 2023, Neeraj won two gold medals. He clinched the top spot in the discus throw in the F54/55/56 category and added another gold in the men’s javelin F55 event. In 2022, he also won gold at the Marrakech Para Athletics Grand Prix in Morocco, setting a new Indian national record.

Neeraj faced significant challenges from an early age. Diagnosed with polio at the age of seven, he relied on a wheelchair. Despite these challenges, he pursued athletics and quickly made a mark, earning a place in the Indian team. His gold-medal performance at the 2018 Asian Para Games proved to be a defining moment in his career.

His breakthrough came at the 2015 Delhi State Athletics Meet, where he won gold medals in the shot put, javelin and discus events.