Mumbai, April 17 (NationPress) Two-time Paralympic medalist Sumit Antil is among the nation's leading javelin throwers who have accused coach Naval Singh of harassment and employing abusive language. This allegation has been formally reported to the Sports Authority of India (SAI), according to a news report released on Friday. Notably, Antil stated that he has received backing from Neeraj Chopra, a gold medallist from the Tokyo Olympics.

The report details that several top athletes in the country have submitted a written grievance to SAI, claiming mental harassment and persistent verbal abuse from coach Naval Singh, who also trains Sachin Yadav.

This complaint was lodged with SAI on April 10, after discussions were held with officials from both SAI and the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), as reported by The Bridge.

Sumit Antil expressed, "I have always maintained my integrity as an athlete, and I wish to steer clear of controversies. I have attempted to discuss this with him (coach Naval Singh) on numerous occasions; however, this situation has crossed my threshold of tolerance," as cited in the report.

He further stated, "He becomes intoxicated and sends us random recordings filled with abuse, even involving our families. This behavior seems to escalate as competitions draw near."

According to the report, the athletes' emails to SAI included audio evidence where Singh allegedly verbally mistreats Neeraj, Sumit, Navdeep, and even Arshad Nadeem, a javelin thrower from Pakistan.

Antil was the first to bring the issue to SAI, claiming he approached SAI Deputy Director Arunlal and TOPS CEO Nash Johal regarding the coach's conduct. Although SAI officials attempted to mediate between the two parties, the Paralympic gold medallist rejected this proposal.

Having initiated this complaint, Antil recounted numerous instances of verbal abuse, humiliation, and mental distress caused by the coach, leading him to take action.

"The language used has been profoundly degrading, not just towards athletes but also our families, including disrespectful comments about our mothers and renowned athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Navdeep Singh, and Sandeep Chaudhary," he concluded.

The report also indicated that Antil has the support of two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra. "I fully stand with my fellow athletes and strongly advocate for decisive action in this situation," Chopra stated in his email.

Chopra added, "As an athlete privileged to represent India on both national and international stages, I firmly believe that the realm of sports should embody dignity, discipline, and respect. The remarks made by coach Naval Singh are not merely inappropriate; they are utterly disgraceful."

Antil has alleged that no steps have been taken against coach Naval Singh despite multiple complaints.