Asian Para Games champion Neeraj Yadav dies by suicide at Delhi flat
Synopsis
Neeraj Yadav — three-time Asian Para Games champion, Asian record-holder in the javelin, and a symbol of what para-sport can achieve in India — has died by suicide at his New Delhi flat. He was 28 years into a life defined by overcoming polio, wheelchair tennis, and eventually world-class athletics. The cause behind the decision remains unascertained.
Key Takeaways
Neeraj Yadav , three-time Asian Para Games javelin champion from Uttar Pradesh , died by suicide at his New Delhi flat on Tuesday, 28 October 2026 .
National chief para-athletics coach S.
Satyanarayana confirmed the death; cause is yet to be ascertained.
Neeraj set an Asian Record of 29.84 metres in the javelin F55 class at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia.
He won two gold medals at the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, China — in discus throw and javelin.
He also set a new Indian National Record at the 2022 Marrakech Para Athletics Grand Prix in Morocco.
Diagnosed with polio at age 7 , he began his athletics career in 2015 after seven years of wheelchair tennis.
Neeraj Yadav, a three-time Asian Para Games javelin throw champion and one of India's most decorated para-athletes, died by suicide at his flat on Tuesday, 28 October 2026, in New Delhi. National chief para-athletics coach S. Satyanarayana confirmed the death, saying the cause behind the tragic decision was yet to be ascertained.
'Yes, Neeraj has died by suicide at his flat. This is extremely unfortunate and tragic. The cause behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained,' Satyanarayana said on Wednesday.
A Life Defined by Resilience
Born in Uttar Pradesh, Neeraj was diagnosed with polio at the age of 7, and a wheelchair became his constant companion through life. Undeterred, he spent nearly seven years competing in wheelchair tennis before pivoting to athletics in 2015. His breakthrough came almost immediately — at the 2015 Delhi State Athletics Meet, he won gold medals in the shot put, javelin, and discus events, signalling the arrival of an exceptional talent.
A Record-Breaking Para-Athletics Career
Neeraj's rise through the ranks of Indian para-athletics was swift. In 2016, he claimed silver in the men's shot put and discus F55 event at the Fazza Grand Prix. His defining moment arrived at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia, where he secured gold in the javelin F55 class with an Asian Record of 29.84 metres — a performance that earned him national recognition.
He continued to scale new heights at the 2022 Asian Para Games held in Hangzhou, China in October 2023, winning gold in both the discus throw (F54/55/56 class) and the javelin (F55 category). In 2022, he also claimed gold at the Marrakech Para Athletics Grand Prix in Morocco, setting a new Indian National Record in the process.
What the Coach Said
Coach Satyanarayana, in confirming the death, described it as 'extremely unfortunate and tragic.' Authorities are yet to formally establish the circumstances or motive behind the decision, according to reports. No official statement has been issued by the Paralympic Committee of India or sports ministry at the time of reporting.
Loss for Indian Para-Sports
Neeraj's death is a significant loss for Indian para-athletics, a discipline that has steadily grown in global stature. His career — spanning multiple Asian Records, national records, and continental gold medals across three Games cycles — represented the very best of what India's para-sport movement has produced. This comes at a time when para-athletes across the country have been pushing for greater institutional support, visibility, and mental health resources within the sporting ecosystem.
Sports authorities and fellow athletes are expected to respond in the coming hours. Neeraj Yadav was among the most accomplished para-athletes of his generation.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to iCall at 9152987821 or Vandrevala Foundation Helpline at 1860-2662-345 (available 24/7).
Point of View
But the welfare infrastructure — psychological support, financial security, post-Games transition — remains largely unstructured. The fact that the cause of his decision is 'yet to be ascertained' reflects how little visibility the system had into his circumstances. This is not the first time a decorated athlete has been lost in the gap between achievement and institutional care, and it will not be the last unless structural mental health support is embedded into para-athletics programmes.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Neeraj Yadav?
Neeraj Yadav was a three-time Asian Para Games javelin throw champion from Uttar Pradesh and one of India's most decorated para-athletes. Diagnosed with polio at the age of 7, he began his athletics career in 2015 after nearly seven years of wheelchair tennis, going on to set Asian and national records.
How did Neeraj Yadav die?
Neeraj Yadav died by suicide at his flat in New Delhi on Tuesday, 28 October 2026. National chief para-athletics coach S. Satyanarayana confirmed the death, stating that the cause behind the decision was yet to be ascertained.
What were Neeraj Yadav's major achievements?
Neeraj won gold at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Indonesia with an Asian Record of 29.84 metres in the javelin F55 class. At the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, he claimed two golds — in discus throw and javelin. He also set an Indian National Record at the 2022 Marrakech Para Athletics Grand Prix in Morocco.
What is the helpline for mental health support in India?
Anyone struggling with mental health can contact iCall at 9152987821 or the Vandrevala Foundation Helpline at 1860-2662-345, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What has been the official response to Neeraj Yadav's death?
As of the time of reporting, no official statement has been issued by the Paralympic Committee of India or the sports ministry. Coach S. Satyanarayana described the death as 'extremely unfortunate and tragic,' and further responses from the sporting community are expected.
