Three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist Neeraj Yadav found dead in Delhi

Three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist Neeraj Yadav, 42, was found dead near his SUV close to Maujpur metro station in northeast Delhi on Tuesday night, October 27. 

Delhi Police said the preliminary investigation suggests he may have died by suicide. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and a postmortem examination is underway at Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital as on Wednesday.

According to the Indian Express, Yadav was found unconscious beside his black Scorpio-N by a female friend at around 9 pm. The two had travelled from Sonipat to Delhi earlier that day.

A senior police officer said the woman had gone to Sonipat to meet Yadav and tell him that she could no longer remain in contact with him. Yadav subsequently dropped her off near Maujpur metro station. When he stopped responding to her calls, she went looking for him and found him lying beside his vehicle near Gate No. 1 of the metro station. She took him to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Around midnight, the Jafrabad police station received information from Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital that a man had been brought dead. Police identified him as Yadav, who lived primarily in Sonipat, Haryana, and ran an online sports academy called Anshneer Sports Academy. 

He is survived by his wife and their three-year-old daughter. Police have initiated proceedings under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Yadav, who hailed from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, was diagnosed with paralysis caused by polio as a child. He initially pursued wheelchair tennis before switching to para-athletics in 2013. He subsequently emerged as a prominent competitor in javelin throw, discus throw and shot put.

He won gold in the men’s F55 javelin throw at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, setting an Asian record with a throw of 29.84 metres. At the 2023 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, he won gold medals in both javelin and discus throw, taking his tally to three titles at the continental competition.

However, his career was disrupted by an anti-doping case. The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) provisionally suspended him after a sample collected out of competition in Bengaluru in October 2023 tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid banned under anti-doping regulations.

Yadav was consequently unable to compete at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games in Japan, held in October. His suspension was expected to continue until early 2027, according to S Satyanarayan, chief coach of India’s para-athletics team.

Satyanarayan said the suspension may have affected Yadav emotionally, but stressed that the circumstances surrounding his death were not yet clear.

If you are aware of anyone feeling suicidal or facing mental health issues, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.

Tamil Nadu

State health department's suicide helpline: 104

Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)

Andhra Pradesh

Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930

Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584

Karnataka

Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222

Kerala

Maithri: 0484 2540530

Chaithram: 0484 2361161

Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.

Telangana

State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104

Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200

SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm)

Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.    

24x7 Helpline: 9820466726 

Click here for working helplines across India.