Dwarves = jokers in the circus, I can see that changing: Navdeep Singh

Chennai: “The biggest change has been that people used to look at our category of people as a laughing stock. That has changed now."

For 24-year-old para javelin thrower Navdeep Singh, the most important change that he has seen over the last few years has been the shift not just in his own life but also in how society perceives individuals like him.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the ongoing National Para-athletics Championships in Chennai, the Paralympics gold medalist was very candid about the evolving perception of dwarves in society and para-sports in India.

“For me, the biggest change has been that people now recognize me, and I appreciate that. Our community used to hide behind the curtains, afraid of society, but now they are walking with their heads held high,” he added.

Changing stereotypes

Navdeep has witnessed the shifting attitudes toward people with dwarfism firsthand.

Traditionally, they were often seen as entertainers rather than as individuals with ambitions, skills, and talent.

“Dwarves = jokers in the circus was the consideration until now. I can see that changing. Earlier, people used to not ask for our opinions or feelings on anything but instead force their ideas on us. That is slowly changing.”

He recalls an incident where a friend was mistaken for him and was mobbed for pictures. “If because of me, things are changing for him, it feels good,” he said.

Although Navdeep won the gold medal at Chennai in the F41 Javelin Throw event, he was not very happy with his performance.

I am a bit unhappy with my performance here. I wanted to touch 40m, but it’s okay. I wasn’t training a lot in the off-season, and still, I threw this far," he said.

"It is an average throw, but I'll take it. I can’t change the result now, so we can move ahead and work on my mistakes."

As he prepares for bigger competitions, including India’s first-ever Grand Prix event, he sees it as an opportunity for greater exposure and motivation.

“This is the first time India will be hosting such a big event. It will serve as a huge motivation for upcoming athletes and also help people in the country understand how para-athletes compete,” he added.

2024, a year to savor

2024 was a memorable year for Navdeep.

In addition to the gold in the Paralympics, he also won bronze at the 2024 World Championships in the F41 Javelin Throw in Kobe, Japan.

For his achievements, he was bestowed with the Arjuna Award last month, a crowning moment for him in his career.

But it was not always a bed of roses for Navdeep.

After finishing fourth at the Tokyo Paralympics, self-doubt began to creep.

"I was questioning myself. Why was I unable to do it? I had various reasons, and when I shared them with my close friends, they told me, ‘Whatever reasons you give will sound like an excuse. It will be better if you prove yourself instead.’ That was a motivating factor for me,” he recalled.

Determined to improve, he reflected on his mistakes, and after analyzing what went wrong, he made changes in his routine, chief of which was deferring from using phones at night.

"Phone is a big problem at night. The first thing I did was to keep it away," he said.

Coming into the Paris Paralympics, expectations were low but Navdeep shone bright, winning the gold medal, and stunning everyone.

Need for domestic competitions

He sees a clear path for Indian Paralympians in the future, with continued and sustained improvements over the years.

"We had four medals in 2016, 19 in 2020, and 29 in 2024. The athletes who finished fourth last time in Tokyo converted those into medals this time around," he said.

"Now the focus is on helping those with bronze medals push up to silver and gold. That’s what the federation is working on currently,” he added.

Beyond his success, Navdeep wants to inspire and guide others. His goal is to see more domestic competitions for para-athletes in India, giving them the experience they need to compete at higher levels.

“We keep competing internationally, but domestic competitions are limited for us. I wish to play in all domestic events so that I get an understanding of the awareness level of para-sports in Indian athletes and what their standards are like. I want to guide upcoming athletes, and that’s the main reason for me to play here,” he said.

For Navdeep, sport has been more than just a career, it has been a way to fight life’s battles.

"Life hasn’t been easy, but sports taught me resilience. Every battle, win or lose, has shaped me. If we fight, we grow. If we believe, nothing can stop us.” he concluded.