4 min learnNew DelhiUp to date: Apr 18, 2026 12:09 AM IST
Double Paralympic gold medallist javelin thrower Sumit Antil, supported by former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, has accused Dronacharya awardee coach Naval Singh of psychological harassment and verbal abuse. In a written criticism to the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI), Sumit has talked about verbal abuse on a number of events, dragging his household into it.
“I skilled underneath him (Naval) in 2018-19, however even after leaving him, he consistently abuses us verbally. He will get drunk and goes on to abuse the households of various athletes, together with mine, Neeraj bhai, Navdeep, and others. He (Naval) would intentionally share recordings of his abusive rants with my supervisor,” Sumit advised The Indian Categorical. “I’ve made this criticism solely after it went past a sure stage. Paani sar se upar aa gaya tha ji,” he added additional.
SAI accepted that that they had acquired the criticism however acknowledged that that they had nothing to do with Naval Singh, and he was engaged with the Athletics Federation of India to coach Sachin Yadav as a part of the nationwide teaching camp. “A criticism has been acquired from Sumit Antil, Paralympic Gold Medalist, alleging verbal abuse by Coach Mr Naval Singh. The criticism has additionally been supported by different athletes, together with Neeraj Chopra. The coach in query shouldn’t be an SAI worker and is coaching one other main athlete as a part of the Nationwide Teaching Camp organised by AFI. The criticism has been acquired in opposition to the coach, and the matter is being duly taken up with the federation,” a supply from SAI stated.
Aside from Neeraj, Paralympic gold medallist Navdeep Singh and Para Athletics World Championship medallist Sandeep Chaudhary additionally endorsed Sumit’s criticism. “All of us, Neeraj Chopra, Sumit Antil and Navdeep Singh, have written to SAI and authorities about this problem. I don’t know whether or not Neeraj bhai skilled underneath Naval sir or not however me, Sumit and Navdeep skilled underneath him up to now. However then he would name us and use abusive language as effectively phrases for us and likewise our households. It has occurred numerous occasions, and typically he calls in a drunken state,” Sandeep advised The Indian Categorical.
Sumit additionally complained of ignorance by SAI and termed the response as an ignorant one. “I’ve a easy query: if somebody is verbally abusing me, who do I’m going to? How does it matter who employs the coach? If he’s coaching in a SAI premise and harassing athletes who’re a part of TOPS, I feel the one approach is to file a criticism with SAI,” he defined.
Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra acquired concerned within the melee when Sumit despatched him the recordings and requested for his assist. “I advised Neeraj bhai what was taking place. He heard the recordings and instantly advised me that I’ll assist you. He additionally wrote a letter in assist of my criticism asking SAI to take stern motion,” stated Sumit.
Within the mail accessed by The Indian Categorical, Neeraj wrote, “I write this as an athlete who has had the honour of representing India at each nationwide and worldwide ranges, and who firmly believes that sport should uphold dignity, self-discipline, and respect. The statements made by coach Naval Singh are usually not simply inappropriate; they’re disgraceful.”
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“If elite athletes like Neeraj bhai and Paralympic medallists are usually not proof against this type of harassment, what is going to occur to the junior youngsters?” Sumit concluded.
(With inputs from Nitin Sharma)
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