Sumit Antil opens up on the alleged mental harassment by coach Naval Singh
Honestly, I never imagined I’d be sharing something so personal in a public forum, but the latest news India about this issue has gathered so much attention that I felt it was time to set the record straight. It all started when a few of us javelin throwers myself, Navdeep Singh and a couple of others decided we’d had enough of the covert abuse that had been going on for years under the guise of “tough coaching”. We finally lodged a formal complaint with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), attaching recordings, messages and detailed accounts.
What’s even more surprising is that even the Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who usually keeps a low profile, publicly backed our plea for action. He said it was high time the authorities stepped in, and that the kind of behavior we reported was simply unacceptable in any sport. The whole episode has become a breaking news story, and many fellow athletes are now watching closely, waiting to see whether justice will be served.
How the problem began a timeline of events
We first noticed something was off during the 2018‑19 season when Naval Singh was coaching a batch of junior athletes, including myself. Back then, I thought his strictness was just part of a typical Indian coaching style a little yelling, a lot of discipline. But gradually, things took a darker turn. He started coming to the training centre late at night, often reeking of alcohol, and would hurl abusive words at us and, more shockingly, at our families.
One evening, after a particularly intense session, I received a voice note on my phone. It was Naval Singh, slurring his words, insulting my mother and sister in the most disrespectful way you can imagine. I was stunned. I listened to it once, deleted it, and tried to move on, thinking maybe it was an isolated incident. But the messages kept coming, and they grew more vicious.
What happened next is interesting instead of confronting him immediately, most of us tried to ignore it, hoping it would stop. But the harassment didn’t just stay limited to me; other javelin throwers started receiving similar threats. Navdeep Singh told me he, too, was being harassed, especially after a competition where we felt we deserved better support. The pattern was clear the coach used his authority to intimidate, often saying, “Maine peekar de di” meaning he claimed the harsh words were spoken under the influence of alcohol.
The tipping point why we finally decided to act
There’s a moment in every athlete’s life when the line is crossed beyond repair. For me, it was when Naval Singh’s abusive messages started targeting my younger sister’s name, accusing her of not being supportive of my career. That felt personal, and my family’s dignity was at stake. I remember sitting with my parents, feeling helpless because the coach we once trusted was now the reason for sleepless nights and constant anxiety.
Even after I won a medal at the Tokyo Paralympics, Naval Singh showed up at my home asking for a referral for the cash reward that the government had promised to athletes. I had already been training under another coach since 2019, but I still handed him a personal gift of ₹50 lakh, hoping it might ease the tension. It didn’t. The abusive messages continued, and by 2021 they had become a daily nightmare.
We tried to resolve things informally. I called Naval Singh several times, asking him politely to stop. He would always reply, “Maine peekar de di,” as if the excuse of being drunk could wipe clean the hurt he caused. When can a serious offence be dismissed just because of intoxication? In any other profession, such behavior would lead to immediate suspension. Yet, within the sporting world, the response seemed strangely muted.
Approaching the authorities SAI and TOPS’ reaction
Our first step was to approach Col. N. S. Johal, the CEO of TOPS, with all our evidence recordings, screenshots and written complaints. To our surprise, Naval Singh admitted in front of the officials that the recordings were real and that he had indeed spoken those words after drinking. Instead of taking strict action, the officials suggested a “compromise”. They basically wanted us to apologize to each other and move on, as if a simple apology could erase months of mental trauma.
After that uncomfortable meeting, we were told to file a formal complaint with SAI, which we did around early April. It’s now been more than a week, and we haven’t even received an acknowledgment email. SAI’s stance is that Naval Singh is not technically their employee, even though he conducts training on SAI‑funded premises and uses government‑sponsored camps. This feels like a classic case of passing the buck the very bodies that should protect athletes are trying to evade responsibility.
Meanwhile, the story has started making rounds as viral news on social media, with many people expressing outrage that an athlete of my calibre is being ignored. The public is asking, “If a Paralympic champion’s voice is not heard, what hope do upcoming athletes have?” The sentiment is echoing across the country, turning this into a trending news India conversation about athlete welfare.
Neeraj Chopra’s involvement and the wider athlete community
When we first spoke to Neeraj Chopra about the issue, he was unaware because most of his training happens overseas. Once we showed him the evidence the recordings, the messages, the timeline he was visibly upset. Neeraj reminded us that no athlete should have to tolerate verbal abuse, especially when it involves family members. He publicly pledged his support and urged the sports bodies to act swiftly.
However, many younger athletes still hesitate to come forward. They fear that speaking up might jeopardise their spot in the national team or affect sponsorship deals. As I told the press, “If athletes like us, who have already won medals, are not being heard, how can fresh talent expect any justice?” This concern is turning the incident into a catalyst for a larger discussion on power dynamics in Indian sport.
Even the emerging javelin thrower Sachin Yadav, who is currently training under Naval Singh, might be facing similar pressures, though he has not spoken out yet. The silence around his experience could simply be fear of losing a coach, or perhaps he believes the situation will resolve itself. But the longer this continues, the more it undermines the integrity of the coaching ecosystem.
Current status no response, growing frustration
It’s now a week since we filed the official complaint, and we still haven’t heard back from anyone at SAI or TOPS. I was shocked that the coach openly admitted to the abusive behavior in front of officials, yet they chose not to act. This silence is sending a dangerous message: that athletes have to endure mental harassment if they want to keep their careers alive.
We’re at a crossroads. If the authorities keep turning a blind eye, we might have to take the matter to the courts. We’ve already consulted a lawyer, looking into filing defamation and mental harassment cases, backed by the solid evidence we have. The legal route could be a long, draining process, but if it forces the system to acknowledge its failures, it might protect future generations.
One thing is clear we cannot let this become a footnote in the annals of Indian sport. The story has captured the attention of the nation, becoming trending news India and sparking debates on social platforms. The hope is that this public pressure will finally push the administration to act.
Impact on the sporting environment why this matters
The ripple effect of this controversy is huge. When elite athletes face mental harassment without any recourse, it creates a culture where abuse is normalized. Young aspirants watching their idols suffer may either stay silent or drop out of sport altogether, fearing similar treatment. This undermines the very foundation of India’s sporting ambitions.
Moreover, the lack of accountability also damages the reputation of bodies like SAI and TOPS, which are meant to nurture talent. If the governing agencies do not address such serious complaints, it erodes trust among athletes, coaches, and the public. The entire ecosystem from grassroots to elite levels could suffer a loss of confidence.
In most cases, when an issue like this surfaces, the media coverage can be a catalyst for change. That’s why we’re hopeful that this breaking news article, combined with the public’s outcry, will force the relevant authorities to reassess their policies, introduce stricter monitoring of coaches, and set up a robust grievance redressal mechanism.
Looking ahead our next steps
Our immediate plan is to move ahead with legal action if SAI continues to ignore our complaint. At the same time, we are reaching out to other athletes to form a collective front, ensuring that no one else has to endure mental harassment in silence. We’re also planning to engage with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, hoping that they will intervene and issue clear guidelines for coach‑athlete interactions.
Personally, I’m determined to keep speaking out, because if we let this slide, the next generation will continue to suffer. My experience has taught me that silence only empowers the abusers. By sharing this story, I hope to inspire other athletes to stand up, and to push the system to finally prioritize athlete well‑being over bureaucratic loopholes.
In the end, the goal is simple: create a safe, respectful environment for every sportsperson in India, where talent can flourish without the shadow of intimidation. Until then, we’ll keep fighting, because the future of Indian sport depends on it.
