Navdeep Singh: The social media follower count can go up and down, but my achievements should not
Someone told me recently that I’m the second most-followed Indian para-athlete on Instagram, with around 220,000 followers. It doesn’t feel real to me because just a year ago, I had only about 10,000. It’s strange when people say they wait to see what I’m posting.
All of that changed after the 2024 Paralympics, where I won gold in F41 Javelin. My social media went pagal (crazy). I got caught up in it too — thinking about what video to post next, what stories to share, checking who was following me, and whether someone famous had started following me.
Despite all the progress I had made, I never expected to throw 46 metres [the second throw was a then Personal Best of 46.39m] and win gold in Paris. The Chinese athlete had reached 48 metres, and the Iranian was throwing around 47. Realistically, I should have been aiming for bronze. But things happened differently. Suddenly, I was in silver position, and then I moved to gold. Even now, it’s hard to believe. People still remind me of how I shouted all those gaalis (abuses) after the win; it’s embarrassing. I really hope that if I win gold in New Delhi, I manage my emotions better, at least away from the TV cameras!
Even now, updates go up on my Instagram every few days, but I don’t handle them anymore. I deleted the app from my phone three months ago and handed over my account to someone else. My reason is simple: I have a big target ahead — the Para Athletics World Championships in Delhi. This is the biggest competition for me since the Paris Olympics, and I want to give it my full focus.
I’m waiting for the medal designs of the Worlds to be released, because I plan to keep a picture of that medal as my phone wallpaper for motivation. Apart from gold, there’s another number always in my mind: 47.32m. That’s what I threw to win in Paris. I want to go beyond that. I may be a Paralympic champion, but in New Delhi, I want to achieve a Personal Best.
Right now, I’m training at SAI, Gandhinagar. I have a bad habit where my left arm drops too much during the throw, and I’m working hard to correct it. I’m aiming for technical perfection so that I don’t make mistakes on the big day. I want that day to be truly special.
This year has already brought big moments. In January, I went to Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive the Arjuna Award. As I waited to walk up to the stage with the President, I remembered my first visit back in 2012. My sports career had only just begun, and I was receiving the National Child Award for winning two medals at the Para Athletics Nationals. I was just 11, with no idea what path lay ahead — whether I’d return to Rashtrapati Bhavan again, or one day win an Arjuna Award.
At that time, all I knew was that I wanted to be a sportsperson and make my country proud. Sports had always interested me. I was the kind of student who studied just enough to avoid a beating. My father had been a wrestler, and my first love was wrestling too. But because of my disability, my back wasn’t flexible. Any load led to injuries. I wrestled for a while, but eventually I had to stop. By then, I had already started para-athletics, so athletics became my focus. People often ask me if there was a single turning point when I chose athletics as a career. The truth is, there wasn’t. It was a series of steps. Winning my first national medals in 2012 and being invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan gave me huge motivation, because I received so much support and recognition after that.
From a Paralympic podium in Paris to a growing digital fan base , Navdeep’s popularity has soared like his javelin.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
From a Paralympic podium in Paris to a growing digital fan base , Navdeep’s popularity has soared like his javelin.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
I think I’ve been fortunate to have more highs than lows in my career, though the lows were important too. In 2019, I wasn’t sure where things were going. Then came the heartbreak of finishing fourth at the Tokyo Paralympics. I was devastated, but that result was crucial. It showed me how much I needed to improve. Tokyo was my first Paralympics; I had no experience. I didn’t know how to throw in the rain or handle the pressure of elite competition. I learned all that in the next two to three years.
After Paris, I moved on quickly. It’s important to always have new targets. New goals help you forget the old ones. After Tokyo, I started preparing for the Worlds and the 2024 Paralympics. After Paris, I took a month-and-a-half break, then started training again because the Worlds became my next focus.
Another reason I got serious again was weight. I normally weigh around 57 kg, but I had gained three extra kilos. That was my wake-up call.
Since then, I’ve competed in two tournaments — the National Championships in Chennai and one in Germany. At the Nationals, I managed only 39 metres (39.93), but in Germany I improved to 43. I know I can do better, and I’m saving my best for Delhi.
Life has changed a lot since Paris. Para-athletes are finally getting the recognition we never had before. Para sport is being promoted, and athletes like me, once treated as a joke, are now celebrated. People recognise me, call me by name, and want pictures. Instead of laughter, I hear claps. After the Paralympics, appreciation poured in. I was invited to Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), then The Great Indian Kapil Show. Instagram followers kept shooting up.
For a while, it was exciting. But I knew all this was temporary. Followers are temporary. Achievements are permanent. That’s why I deleted the app. As long as I keep winning for my country, I’ll have people’s love. The social media follower count can go up and down, but my achievements should not.
As told to Jonathan Selvaraj
Published on Sep 24, 2025