Iranian player waves a black flag and makes throat-slitting gestures at the Paralympics

Organisers disqualified him; India awarded the gold medal

Paris – Para-athlete Navdeep Singh made history by winning a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw F41 category at the Paralympics with a throw of 47.32 meters, securing India’s seventh gold medal in the French capital. Initially, Navdeep Singh had secured second place, earning a silver medal, while Iran’s Sadegh Beit Sayah won gold with a throw of 47.65 meters. However, Sayah was disqualified after controversially waving a flag and making throat-slitting gestures during the competition, resulting in Singh’s silver medal being upgraded to gold.

Paraathlete Navdeep Singh on the left and Iranian athletes displaying the flag controversially on the right

Ban on displaying flags with symbols other than the national flag

After winning the gold, Sadegh Sayah pulled out a black flag with Arabic writing and waved it. In Paralympic athletics, athletes are prohibited from displaying any flags featuring symbols other than their country’s national flag. Some even claimed that the flag Sayah waved was linked to the terrorist organisation ‘Islamic State.’ Due to this inappropriate behavior, he was stripped of his gold medal.

Editorial Perspective

This incident highlights how, for religious fanatics, Jihad takes precedence over sports, business, education, or health. In fact, the organisers should impose a lifetime ban on such athletes.