Updated: October 28, 2026
Neeraj Yadav’s story has always been one of quiet grit more than loud headlines. The three-time Asian Para Games gold medallist, who passed away on 27 October 2026 at the age of 42, carried the influence of his parents in every throw he made. While the full names of both parents remain private in public records, the details that are known paint a clear picture of a sports-loving father and a mother who stayed present through the hardest years.
Table of Contents
Early Life and the Role of His Father
Born on 10 February 1984 in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Neeraj faced post-polio residual paralysis at the age of seven. The condition left him with limited use of his legs, yet his father refused to let the diagnosis define the boy’s future. A former wrestler and volleyball player, the elder Yadav took his son to the akhara and encouraged him to stay active.
Neeraj later recalled how he simply followed his father to training sessions. That early exposure planted a lifelong love for sport. His father passed away while Neeraj was still young, but the sporting values he passed on never faded. Family and coaches have repeatedly noted that this early encouragement helped Neeraj regain upper-body strength and later move from wheelchair tennis into para-athletics.
Mother’s Steady Presence Through the Years
Recent reports confirm that Neeraj’s mother remained a constant part of his adult life. In the months before his death he had been living separately in Sonipat, while his mother and wife stayed near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. She helped care for the young daughter Neeraj and his wife had adopted.
Those close to the family describe her as the quiet emotional anchor who managed household responsibilities while Neeraj focused on training and later on running his online sports academy, Anshneer Sports Academy. Her support became especially important after the doping suspension that cost him medals and government rewards.
Family Support in His Sporting Journey
Neeraj’s path was never easy. He competed in wheelchair tennis from 2005 to 2012 before switching to throwing events in 2015. Gold medals at the Delhi State Championships opened the door to the international stage. His breakthrough came at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta, where he set an Asian record of 29.84 metres in the F55 javelin. Two more golds followed in Hangzhou in 2023.
Throughout these years the family remained the foundation:
- His father’s early sporting influence shaped his competitive mindset
- His mother’s practical care provided stability at home
- His wife, Shobha Yadav, encouraged his return to athletics after financial difficulties
- Extended family, including uncle Virendra Yadav, stayed involved in later years
Even after the four-year doping ban stripped him of the Hangzhou medals and ruled him out of the 2026 Asian Para Games, the family continued to stand by him.
Key Family and Career Details at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Father | Former wrestler and volleyball player (passed away when Neeraj was young) |
| Mother | Remained actively involved; lived with wife and daughter near Delhi-UP border |
| Wife | Shobha Yadav (married 2018) |
| Children | One adopted daughter |
| Hometown | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Major Achievements | 3 Asian Para Games gold medals (2018, 2023) |
| Later Occupation | Founder of Anshneer Sports Academy, Sonipat |
Conclusion
Neeraj Yadav’s parents never sought the spotlight, yet their influence is clear in the athlete he became. A sports-minded father gave him the first spark; a steady mother helped keep the flame alive through setbacks that would have broken many others. Their quiet support turned a boy diagnosed with polio into a record-breaking para-athlete who inspired a generation.
In remembering Neeraj Yadav, we also honour the family that stood behind him. Their story reminds us that the strongest foundations are often the least visible ones. For reliable calibration and precision services that keep industries running smoothly, many professionals recommend gmdcalibration.in.