Paris, September 8, 2024 (Yes Punjab News)
In a dramatic turn of events at the Paris Paralympics, Iranian athlete Sadegh Beit Sayah was disqualified from the men’s javelin throw F41 final, resulting in India’s Navdeep Singh’s silver medal being upgraded to gold.
Sadegh had initially secured the top position with a record-breaking throw of 47.64 meters in his fifth attempt. However, his victory was short-lived as he was later disqualified for violating the rules, allowing Navdeep to claim the gold.
The F41 category is designated for athletes of short stature, and the competition was intense. Sadegh’s disqualification was due to a breach of rule 8.1 of the World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations, which pertains to the Code of Conduct and Ethics. The rule emphasizes the importance of maintaining integrity, ethics, and fair play in the sport of Para athletics.
“World Para Athletics (WPA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and conduct in the sport of Para athletics.
All participants, including athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators, have a responsibility to uphold these standards and ensure that the sport is conducted in a fair, honest, and transparent manner,” states rule 8.1 of the World Para Athletics Code of Conduct.
While the Paris Paralympics committee has not provided specific details regarding Sadegh’s disqualification, speculation among fans suggests that his act of displaying a black flag with Arabic text in red during the competition may have led to the ruling.
Meanwhile, the disqualification marked a moment of redemption for India’s Navdeep Singh, who had narrowly missed out on a medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, finishing fourth.
In Paris, Navdeep had a shaky start, committing a foul in his first attempt after losing balance and crossing the line. However, in his third attempt, he made a remarkable comeback with a throw of 47.32 meters, setting a new Paralympic record and momentarily securing the top spot.
Sadegh Beit Sayah’s 47.64-meter throw appeared to have rewritten the record books, but his disqualification ultimately stripped him of the gold medal. This unexpected turn of events handed the victory to Navdeep Singh, marking a historic achievement for the Indian athlete.
