Record-breaking Iranian javelin thrower stripped of Paralympic gold over display of ‘religious’ flag

PARIS (Agencies): Beit Sayah set a new Paralympic record in the men’s javelin throw F11 category at the Paris Paralympics 2024 with a throw of 47.64 meters. The Iranian para-athlete celebrated his victory by showing a religious flag, which led to his disqualification from the games. This turn of events altered the medal standings, upgrading the silver medal of India’s Navdeep Singh to gold. Beit Sayah told reporters that he had displayed a religious flag during his victory celebration at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games without any issues. Indian para-athlete Navdeep Singh’s silver medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 was then upgraded to gold. This victory marks India’s first-ever gold medal in the F41 men’s javelin category. Navdeep Singh, a 23-year-old athlete from Haryana, achieved a personal best of 47.32m, securing the top spot in the competition. Singh had previously finished fourth at the Tokyo Paralympics three years ago. Navdeep, who competes in the classification meant for athletes of short stature, originally ended with a silver after he upstaged world record holder Sun Pengxiang of China with a 47.32m throw.

However, that was upgraded to an unprecedented gold after Sadegh’s disqualification. Pengxiang (44.72m) finished with a silver. Sayah had managed to nose ahead of the field with a new Paralympic record of 47.64m in his penultimate throw but lost the medal owing to his antics. Social media users and prominent political and cultural figures in Iran criticized the decision to disqualify Beit Sayah, saying the athlete was right to express his religious enthusiasm after winning the gold medal. The International Paralympic Committee rules bar athletes from making any political gestures at the event and Sayah was thrown out of the final results for unsporting/improper conduct. Iraq’s Nukhailawi Wildan (40.46) claimed the bronze medal. Starting the competition with a foul, Navdeep, who entered the event with a personal best of 44.29 metres and a season best of 42.82 metres, came up with a throw of 46.39 metres in his second attempt, propelling him to the second place. But it was his third throw that electrified the stadium. With a monstrous throw of 47.32 metres, Navdeep shattered the Paralympic record and surged into lead, only for Sadegh to better the Indian’s mark with an effort of 47.64 metres in his fifth attempt.