PCI Terminates Coach Naval Singh Over Sumit Antil's Harassment Complaints With Immediate Effect

The Paralympic Committee of India has terminated the services of coach Naval Singh with immediate effect following serious allegations of misconduct raised by Paralympic gold medallist Sumit Antil. The decision was taken after complaints of mental harassment, verbal abuse, and inappropriate behaviour were formally submitted and reviewed by the committee.

In an official communication issued by PCI president Devendra Jhajharia, the governing body confirmed that it had conducted an internal review after receiving multiple complaints from athletes. The letter stated that both oral and written submissions were examined, and athletes were given a fair opportunity to present their concerns before any action was taken.

The committee noted that the allegations were serious and supported by initial evidence, prompting an emergency meeting to deliberate on the matter. Following the review, the PCI concluded that the conduct attributed to Naval Singh did not meet the expected standards required in a professional sporting environment, particularly one involving elite athletes representing the country at international events.

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Sumit Antil, a gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Paralympics, had alleged that the coach mentally harassed him and used abusive language, including remarks directed at his family. Antil further claimed that similar behaviour affected other athletes, including Olympic javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, and that the coach would circulate recordings of his alleged abusive remarks through team channels.

The complaint, which was also supported by athletes such as Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Chaudhary, was submitted to the Sports Authority of India. While SAI acknowledged receiving the complaint, it clarified that Naval Singh was not its employee and had instead been engaged by the Athletics Federation of India to train another athlete as part of a national coaching camp.

Despite some officials stating that Naval Singh had not been formally associated with para athletics since 2025, the PCI proceeded with the decision to remove him from all its activities, citing the need to safeguard athletes and uphold professional standards. The move underscores the governing body’s commitment to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for sportspersons, particularly in light of increasing scrutiny around athlete welfare and coaching practices in Indian sports.

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