Paralympic javelin star Sumit Antil has lodged an official complaint with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), accusing renowned coach Naval Singh of sustained mental harassment and inappropriate verbal conduct. The grievance, Antil says, stems from repeated incidents that he claims crossed professional limits.

Antil, who clinched gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics and the Paris 2024 Paralympics, stated that the alleged behaviour was directed not only at him but also at Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra. According to Antil, the coach’s remarks extended to personal attacks involving their families, which he described as deeply distressing.

The F64 category thrower, considered a strong medal prospect for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, said the situation worsened over time. He alleged that the coach would circulate recordings of disparaging comments to their representatives, ensuring the messages reached the athletes.

SAI has confirmed receiving the complaint and indicated that the matter has been forwarded to the relevant federation for examination. Officials clarified that Singh is not directly employed by SAI but is associated with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and is currently involved in a national coaching camp setup.

Singh, honoured with the Dronacharya Award in 2015, is presently coaching javelin thrower Sachin Yadav. Yadav secured a fourth-place finish at last year’s World Championships, ahead of Chopra, who competed while managing an injury.

Antil said that his representation to authorities has also been endorsed by Chopra along with fellow para-athletes Navdeep Singh and Sandeep Chaudhary. He expressed disappointment over what he perceives as a lack of prompt response following the filing of the complaint, noting that athletes of their standing should expect timely acknowledgement.

He further suggested that competitive dynamics may be influencing the situation, questioning whether the coach’s conduct could be linked to rivalry considerations, given his association with another leading javelin athlete.

The developments have placed attention on athlete welfare mechanisms within Indian athletics, with authorities now expected to examine the claims and determine appropriate next steps.