Who was Neeraj Yadav? Three-time Asian Para Games Gold Medallist Died At The Age Of 42
In Short
A post mortem examination was underway at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital to determine the cause of death, media reports said
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Neeraj Yadav
Indian para-athlete Neeraj Yadav, a three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist in javelin and discus throw, has died at the age of 42 in Delhi. He was reportedly discovered dead at a flat on Tuesday night, October 27 with the initial suspicion of poisoning. The exact cause of death was yet to be confirmed.
A post mortem examination was underway at Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital to determine the cause of death, media reports said. At the time of reporting, authorities weren't releasing further details.
What was Neeraj Yadav's name?
Yadav was born on February 10, 1984 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh and was active in F55 category para-athletics. At the age of seven he suffered from post-polio residual paralysis but continued his competitive sports career.
Yadav has been playing wheelchair tennis from 2005 till 2012 before switching to para-athletics. He then turned his attention to the track and field events in 2015, such as javelin throw, discus throw and shot put.
Three gold medals in the Asian Para Games competition
Yadav had a significant presence at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta when she won gold in the men's F55 javelin throw with an Asian record throw of 29.84 metres.
He won 2 more gold at the Asian Para Games 2022 in Hangzhou in October 2023. He finished the Asian Para Games with three gold medals, in the F55 javelin and discus throw events.
He is also a 2022 gold medalist in the Marrakech Para Athletics Grand Prix and 2016 silver medalist of the Fazza Grand Prix.
With the success of a case and career challenge
Yadav was provisionally suspended from the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in November 2023 after she tested positive for anabolic steroid just prior to the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou.
He later claimed that he had requested DNA tests on his sample in 2024, which the anti-doping disciplinary panel had complied with. It was a major hurdle in his sporting career.
His death has yet to be investigated, but his three gold medals won at the Asian Para Games, as well as his contribution to Indian para-athletics, will still form a key part of his sporting legacy.
