Neelam Jaswant Singh is a renowned Indian athlete discus thrower. Her personal best throw is 64.55 m. This best throw was achieved at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan. In an in-competition test, during the 2005 World Championships, She was tested positive for Pemoline, which is a banned stimulant. Neelam Jaswant Singh can easily be one of India`s most advancing personalities and vivid athletes. Her specialty is discus throwing and Neelam has advanced from a junior in 1986 and in to the seniors. She has been one of the most talented athletes in the country achieving several ranks and awards at international sports events. The longest dominating national champion in the present crop of athletes, Neelam Jaswant Singh, is still doing duty for the country. She also works in the Railway Coach Factory in Kapurthala, as an employee.
Early Life of Neelam Jaswant Singh
Neelam Jaswant Singh was born on 8th January 1971, in Farmana, in northern Indian state of Haryana. She did her schooling from the Government School, Julana, and as a student she excelled in sports. She completed her graduation from Government Women`s College, Patiala. In the year 1986, Neelam Jaswant Singh first came into limelight when she set a new record in the School Games held at Delhi. At the Junior Nationals at Hisar, this record was followed by a gold medal and peaked by a bronze in the Asian Junior Track and Field Meet at Jakarta.
Neelam Jaswant Singh continued to succeed at the junior level, at the same time improved and enhanced her performance with each competition, even as she gained experience. She had taken part in her second Asian Junior Track and field Meet by the year 1988 and performed to the best of her skills. The tournament was held at Singapore.
Career of Neelam Jaswant Singh
In the year 1989, her first major challenge came with the ATF seniors, at Delhi and the SAF Games in Islamabad. In the ATF, Neelam Jaswant Singh finished fourth and proudly won gold at Islamabad. After that there was no holding her back. Her enormous determination and application has been one of the key aspects of Neelam. The most important aspect was her ability to raise her level and throw better with every following competition. Gradually, Neelam Jaswant Singh has moved from a 50 m plus level thrower over the years.
At one stage, her progressive throws placed her only next to the Chinese athletes. Today, the most significant fact she has to her credit is a performance over 60 m that speaks volumes of the work she has put in to master her skills. Indeed her progress chart makes an interesting reading. In the SAF Games held at Chennai, in which Neelam Jaswant Singh recorded 50.96 m, fetched a gold medal for her outstanding performance. In the year 1996, she jumped by 3 m and moved further to her career best of 56.6.66 m in 1997. Her record throws of 57.94 m and 59.19 m in successive meets in India were being experienced in the year 1998.
In the same year, Neelam Jaswant Singh won the bronze medal at the Bangkok Asian Games. In the Kosanova International Athlete Meet held at Almaty (Kazakhstan), Neelam got a gold medal performance. Her present national mark stand is 60.28 m. It was a striking performance recorded at Trivandrum in the year 1999. In August 2000, she also won a gold medal at the ATF that took place in Jakarta. But with a throw of 55.26 m, she failed to make a mark in the Sydney Olympics.
Achievements of Neelam Jaswant Singh
In the year 1998, Neelam Jaswant Singh ranked 2nd at the Asian Championships at Fukuoka, Japan. In the same year, she attained 3rd position at the Asian games in Bangkok, Thailand. Recognizing her talent the Indian Government conferred her Arjuna Award in the year 1998. In the 2000 Asian Championships, she bagged the 1st place and the 26th place for her 55.26 m throw at the Sydney Olympic Games, 2000. Followed by 2nd position at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, preceded by a 1st rank at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. She became 1st at the Afro-Asian Games held in Hyderabad, India in 2003. She again became 2nd at the Asian Championships in that year. In addition she has three medals from the Asian Championships.
Personal Life of Neelam Jaswant Singh
Neelam Jaswant Singh has been married to her coach Jaswant Singh. Neelam is also employed with the Railway Coach Factory in Kapurthala and was awarded by the Punjab Government in the year 1996.