New Delhi: Neeraj Yadav, a three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, has been found dead inside his flat in Delhi. The 42-year-old para-athlete, who excelled in javelin throw, was found dead under circumstances that are being investigated by the police.
Preliminary reports suggest that poisoning may have caused his death. Post-mortem procedures are underway at Delhi’s GTB Hospital to determine the exact cause of death.
Paralympic champion Sumit Antil and fellow athlete Bipin Kasana visited the hospital to pay their respects and extend support to Yadav’s family following the tragic news.
Yadav had reportedly been suspended from competitions after a steroid was detected during a national doping test conducted in Bengaluru in 2023. The suspension prevented him from participating in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games.
Reports have suggested that the suspension and his inability to compete may have caused him emotional distress. However, the circumstances surrounding his death and the suspected motive remain to be established.
Yadav rose to international prominence after winning gold in the javelin throw at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta. He continued his impressive run at the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, where he secured gold medals in both javelin throw and discus throw.
Diagnosed with paralysis caused by polio at the age of seven, Yadav initially trained in wheelchair tennis before switching to para-athletics. He competed in the F55 category, which features seated throwing events for athletes with eligible physical impairments.
His death has come as a shock to the para-sports community, with fellow athletes rallying around his family during this difficult time.
