New Delhi: A three-time Asian Para Games champion who once brought home gold medals in two throwing events is dead at 42, with the circumstances surrounding Indian para-athlete Neeraj Yadav’s death remaining unclear.

Yadav allegedly died by suicide after reportedly consuming poison at his residence, while a postmortem examination was underway at a Delhi hospital on Wednesday.

S Satyanarayana, head coach of the Indian para-athletics team, confirmed Yadav’s death and expressed grief. He said he had received information about the incident, but the athlete’s body was still at the hospital.

‘Neeraj has died by suicide. It is very unfortunate that such a thing has happened,’ Satyanarayana said. 

Although reports suggest that Yadav had been experiencing emotional distress following his exclusion from the Asian Para Games due to a doping suspension, the precise circumstances surrounding his death and the reasons behind it have not been established.

Doping suspension and a missed Asian Para Games

Yadav reportedly struggled emotionally after missing the Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya earlier this month. His absence followed a doping suspension that kept him out of the competition.

Satyanarayana, however, refrained from drawing a direct connection between the suspension and the athlete’s death.

He said he could not speculate on the reasons behind the tragedy and stressed that athletes must learn to cope with both triumphs and setbacks.

The episode brings renewed attention to the pressures athletes can face when sporting careers are interrupted by disciplinary action or prolonged periods away from competition.

However, the circumstances of Yadav’s death remain under examination, and no definitive explanation has been established.

A decorated career in para-athletics

Yadav was one of India's accomplished para-athletes, winning three gold medals at the Asian Para Games.

He won the javelin throw title at the 2018 edition in Jakarta before adding two more gold medals at the 2023 Games in Hangzhou, taking gold in both the javelin and discus events.

His journey in sport began against the backdrop of a childhood disability. Diagnosed with post-polio residual paralysis at the age of seven, Yadav initially pursued wheelchair tennis before moving to para-athletics.

He subsequently carved out a place for himself in international seated throwing events.

Yadav competed in the F55 classification, which covers seated field events including the shot put, discus and javelin.

His performances at successive Asian Para Games established him as a prominent name in India's para-athletics contingent.

His death is a significant loss for the sporting community, particularly in a discipline where he achieved sustained international success.

As the postmortem examination proceeds, the circumstances surrounding the 42-year-old athlete’s death remain unclear.