Navdeep Singh Emphasizes Khelo India Para Games 2025 As A Platform For Emerging Talent

March 17, 2025: Navdeep Singh, the 2024 Paralympic gold medal-winning javelin thrower, has praised the Khelo India Para Games (KIPG) as a significant platform for the development and growth of para-athletes in India. As the second edition of the KIPG is set to begin on March 20, 2025, Singh emphasized how the competition plays a pivotal role in not only showcasing the skills of senior para-athletes but also fostering the next generation of talent.

Speaking to SAI Media, the Arjuna Award-winning athlete reflected on how the KIPG 2025 provides para-athletes an opportunity to compete against each other, motivating one another to perform better. He highlighted how the tournament allows athletes to test their training methods and assess their strengths and weaknesses before heading to international competitions.

“KIPG 2025 is a great platform for senior athletes to compete against each other. We also motivate each other at all times. It further helps us in testing our training modules and practice our strengths and weaknesses before international competitions,” said Singh. “We also get a chance to meet with budding athletes and exchange ideas and thoughts on the competitions.”

With over 1,200 athletes set to participate across six disciplines, the seven-day tournament will be held at three venues in New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Stadium, and the Dr Karni Singh shooting range. The KIPG 2025 will see elite para-athletes, including 2024 Paralympic gold medalists like Harvinder Singh (archery), Dharambir (club thrower), and Praveen Kumar (high jump), among the competitors.

The inaugural edition of the KIPG in December 2023 was deemed a success, with at least 25 athletes from the competition being selected for India’s 84-member contingent at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Navdeep Singh, who won a silver medal at KIPG 2023, went on to win the gold medal in javelin throw in the F41 category at the Paris Paralympics.

Singh believes that domestic competitions like KIPG are essential for identifying and nurturing para-athletes, creating a pipeline of talent that will continue to strengthen India’s presence on the world stage. “After India’s performance at the Paris Paralympics, there is a growing interest in the Para Games, with many youngsters coming up. I am confident that KIPG 2025 will see new athletes emerging and contributing to India’s future prospects in para-athletics,” said Singh.

He also pointed out how competitions like the Khelo India Para Games allow athletes to gain exposure and experience that can open doors to international opportunities. “The domestic tournaments are crucial for the growth of para-athletics. In the recently concluded World Para Athletics Grand Prix 2025, several new athletes were introduced and earned opportunities. KIPG 2025 will further help in unearthing talent in the country.”

The upcoming edition of KIPG 2025 is expected to provide the ideal stage for India’s para-athletes to showcase their skills and compete against some of the best in the world. Over 50 para-athletes participating in the event are also part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) core group for the 2028 LA Olympics cycle, indicating the increasing importance of these domestic tournaments for India’s Olympic aspirations.

Navdeep Singh’s praise for KIPG reflects a growing belief in India’s ability to produce world-class para-athletes, as the country continues to invest in its sporting infrastructure and provide platforms for para-athletes to excel on both the national and international stages. As KIPG 2025 approaches, excitement builds for what promises to be another milestone in the development of para-sports in India.