Damneet Singh: From Family Legacy to Hammer Throw Glory

In the latest episode of Reliance Foundation’s Safar Champions Ka, Damneet Singh looks back on the people, experiences and challenges that shaped his journey, from discovering hammer throw through his sporting family to overcoming injuries and rebuilding his technique on his way to the Asian Games stage.

For Damneet Singh, sport is more than a career, it is a family legacy. Born and raised in Barnala, Punjab, the hammer thrower grew up watching his father, a former national champion pole vaulter, pursue sport. Today, Damneet has carved out a name for himself in the throwing circle, with a 70.64m throw that earned him qualification for the Asian Games.

Sport entered Damneet’s life through his father. His elder brother initially took up pole vault, but an unfortunate knee injury brought his journey to a halt. Damneet’s family then saw an opportunity in him.

“Seeing Damneet's body and growth, my family decided to make him a good sportsman,” he recalls.

With a sporting father and a mother who is a lecturer, Damneet found himself balancing two worlds, academics and athletics.

“I had to study to make my mother happy and to make my father happy, I had to play sports,” he says. The effort paid off in both areas, with Damneet becoming a gold medallist in Political Science during his graduation.

Before settling on hammer throw, he experimented with several sports, including football and hockey. His breakthrough came through the school competition circuit, where he began winning at the state and national levels. He continued his success through the Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 age groups before moving into the senior category.

“I played in the first national competition and I won a medal. I played in the first international competition and I won a medal,” Damneet says.

By 2013, he had decided to pursue hammer throw professionally. But the senior level brought new challenges. A lack of coaching guidance and technical issues resulted in recurring injuries, including knee and groin problems.

“Secondly, when I joined the senior group, I started getting injuries. I got those injuries because my technique was not good,” he explains.

A conversation with fellow athlete Aditya Rai eventually led him to Reliance Foundation, where Damneet discovered coach Steve Lemke and a new approach to training.

“Then I met a boy named Aditya Rai. He forced me to go to Reliance. There is a good coach there, Steve Lemke,” he recalls.

The transition required patience. “In the first year, I was able to break what I had learned,” Damneet says. The following year, his performances began to improve, including a 68m throw at the Fed Cup, followed by a steady progression in distance.

The support extended beyond coaching. Damneet highlights the programme’s nutrition, facilities and structured training system, calling the training setup one of its biggest strengths.

His school has followed his journey with equal pride.

“We are very proud that Damneet Singh has been a student of our school,” his teacher says. “We hope that in the Asian Games in 2026, he will bring a gold medal for India. This is our only wish for him.”

For Damneet, the road to the Asian Games has demanded personal sacrifices too. Someone who admits he once struggled to stay away from his family, he chose not to return home during this preparation period.

“This time, I didn't even go home. I felt that every day is so important,” he says. “I have worked very hard.”

Yet through injuries, setbacks and rebuilding, his biggest ambition has remained constant: “I want to win a medal in the Olympics.”

From a family steeped in sport to the Asian Games stage, Damneet Singh’s journey is one of perseverance, sacrifice and an unwavering belief in what comes next.