Three-time Asian Para Games gold medalist Neeraj Yadav died by suicide

Neeraj Yadav (Image credit: X) NEW DELHI: Indian para athletics has been left in shock after three-time Asian Para Games gold medalist Neeraj Yadav reportedly committed suicide in his apartment on Tuesday evening, sources told TOI. The 42-year-old competitor, who competed in the F55 category, was suspected of ingesting poison. An autopsy was underway at Delhi’s GTB Hospital at the time of filing the report on Wednesday.Who was Neeraj Yadav? – Everything you need to knowParalympic champion Sumit Antil and another para-athlete Vipin Kasana were present at the hospital, sources said. The circumstances of Yadav’s death are yet to be ascertained.India’s chief para-athletics coach S Satyanarayana confirmed the development to TOI, saying that he had learned that Yadav had died by suicide.“Yes, Neeraj died by suicide. I have come to know that too. I was told that he had consumed poison in his flat last night. This is extremely unfortunate and tragic,” said Satyanarayana.The coach suggested that Yadav may have been in emotional distress after missing the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games due to his doping ban. However, the circumstances leading to his death remain unconfirmed.“He would be looking forward to competing in these Games. Medals in the Asian Para Games can bring substantial government financial awards and stable employment opportunities. However, his suspension has not ended and he has not been able to compete. It is possible that it has affected him deeply, but we cannot say for sure what he was going through,” Satyanarayana added.Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Yadav has been among India’s top para-athletes. He was diagnosed with residual paralysis from polio at the age of seven, yet he continued his sporting ambitions. He played wheelchair tennis from 2005 to 2012 before switching to para-athletics.His breakthrough came at the 2015 Delhi State Athletics Meet where he won gold medals in shot put, javelin and discus.Yadav made his mark on the international scene at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta when he won gold in the men’s F55 javelin with an Asian record of 29.84 metres.He subsequently won two gold medals at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, winning the javelin and discus events, taking his career to three Asian Para Games titles.However, his career was overshadowed by the anti-doping scandal. He was provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency after an out-of-competition sample taken in Bengaluru in October 2023 tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid. He later requested DNA testing of his sample through the anti-doping disciplinary process.His death marks a tragic turn in the life of an athlete who overcame significant physical challenges to reach the pinnacle of Asian para-athletics.