New Delhi: India can have a maximum of four javelin throwers competing at the world championships in Tokyo, but only the current world champion Neeraj Chopra is officially confirmed to participate. No Indian thrower has yet succeeded in crossing the qualification mark of 85. 50m. Beyond Neeraj, only Sachin Yadav, who has displayed remarkable form this season, is vying to qualify through world rankings (with the top 36 securing spots).

At the ongoing National Federation Cup in Kochi, Sachin achieved gold with a throw measuring 83. 86m. The lone other thrower to surpass 80m was Yashvir Singh (80. 85m). This is noteworthy considering that six throwers in the final on Monday had earlier exceeded the 80m threshold in the last three seasons.

Although the season has just begun, throwers have found it challenging to surpass the 80m mark. At the Indian Open Throws Competition in March, experienced athlete Rohit Yadav, who has consistently thrown well beyond 80m in previous seasons, claimed first place with only a 78. 87m throw. Yashvir's 77. 49m was sufficient for a top finish at the India Open Athletics meet in Chennai.

In comparison to performances in the past few years, Neeraj Chopra's impressive rise on the global stage sparked a javelin boom. Three Indian throwers participated in the final of the 2023 world championships, and the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games witnessed the unforgettable contest for gold and silver between Neeraj and Kishore Jena.

Jena also participated in the Paris Olympics and is currently on the mend following ankle surgery. His performance had waned after the peak during the Asian Games when he achieved a throw of 87. 54m. Having undergone surgery in October, Jena is making gradual progress in his recovery. He has taken part in two events this month, with a throw of 77. 82m registered in the Fed Cup on Monday.

“Kishore was taking part in his second event. He competed less than a week prior (to the India Open meet) to qualify for the Federation Cup. These two events served as effective benchmarks for us to evaluate his progress in returning from the injury, and he is advancing well,” remarks Steve Lemke, Throws Coach at Reliance Foundation in Mumbai, where Jena is currently training.

His first significant international event will be the Doha Diamond League meet on May 16. “As you know, we weren’t anticipating him to throw significantly in April due to the recovery time required after the surgery and the injury. However, he’s moving in the right direction. Therefore, we are very eager to see what the season holds for him. The primary goal this year is to ultimately reach the World Championships in September in Japan,” Lemke stated.

Achieving qualification for the Worlds will be on the priority list for most throwers, and it will be interesting to observe how they strive for significant throws as the season progresses. There is still time (with August 25 being the cut-off date) for them to give their all.

The Asian Championships will serve as an opportunity for two Indians to be chosen based on the Federation Cup outcome (seven successfully reached the qualifying standard of 75. 36m), the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour event in Bhubaneshwar, and the Inter-State meet in August will provide chances for them to leave an impression.

“I believe we will witness an increasing number of significant throws as the season progresses. In truth, it is still quite early in the season,” says Steve.

“In 2023, we had three throwers compete in the finals of the World Championship and then the top two at the Asian Games; it was an impressive year. I think it's more of a unique occurrence. In 2024, India had 10 javelin throwers who reached 80 meters or near that mark (seven surpassed 80m). It was challenging to replicate that for the upcoming year. However, I think it will certainly happen again. ”

“There are newcomers emerging and challenging the veteran javelin throwers, and all of this can be credited to Neeraj Chopra. He has done something remarkable for the country. ”

“Javelin continues to be a very strong event in India. At the Federation Cup, the top seven individuals achieved the qualifying distance for the Asian Championships. That clearly indicates, you know, that the depth of the event remains very solid in India,” stated Steve.

There is also a shift in the domestic structure with the Athletics Federation of India eliminating long-duration camps, which will now occur only before significant international events.

Instead, the SAI’s National Centre of Excellence, Patiala, now acts as a training camp for javelin throwers. The AFI has appointed Russian Sergey Makarov as the javelin coach. Throwers can opt to train under his guidance or with their respective departments and academies. Steve, for instance, is mentoring some young talents at the Reliance Foundation. Sachin, who represents the Police Sports Control, is training at the JLN Stadium with his personal coach.

Former international Samarjeet Singh Malhi, who played a role in Kishore’s advancement as a national coach in camp, states that it all hinges on how you prepare the thrower for optimal performance. “There is a lot that needs to come together for a successful throw and consistent results. You must initially condition the body to build strength to handle the load. It took us one and a half years of preparation for Kishore to reach that level of form,” he remarks.

Indian throwers can gain insights from Neeraj regarding consistency. The world champion may not have surpassed 90m yet, but he has demonstrated remarkable consistency in the 87-89m range, which he achieves regardless of weather conditions. For that, staying injury-free will be essential.

Read Also: Suryakumar Yadav aims for victory against SRH for his wife Devisha Shetty: 'She has prepared something special for me'

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!