Indian Javelin Stars Aim for Paris Glory with Belief and Intense Training
India’s javelin stars, led by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, are poised to kick off their outdoor season at the Doha leg of the Diamond League on May 10th. Chopra, along with his comrade Kishore Jena, will spearhead India’s challenge, fueled by a newfound sense of belief.
Chopra, who made history with a gold-silver finish alongside Jena at the Hangzhou Asian Games, believes that a third javelin thrower, DP Manu, should also qualify for the Paris Olympics. “We have to take this Budapest belief forward and in Paris anything is possible,” Chopra said.
Manu, who has yet to meet the qualifying standard of 85.50 meters, is currently ranked 11th in the Road to Paris rankings. This position should secure him a ticket to Paris unless others surpass him or he fails to improve his distance.
The Indian Grand Prix I in Bengaluru saw Manu win the men’s javelin throw with an effort of 81.91m, short of the Olympic qualification mark. However, he has been training diligently in South Africa with his coach Kashinath Naik.
Chopra, Jena, and Manu have all benefited from the government’s Target Olympic Podium Scheme, which provides funding for athletes to prepare for global events. Chopra alone has received close to 4 Crore INR in support.
Chopra emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning and overseas training. “The entire scenario changes when you arrive at the Games Village. The real pressure starts building up then. But I should be prepared,” he said.
Chopra credits his success to his international training experiences in Finland, South Africa, the UK, and Turkey. “After Tokyo, I found out how international athletes plan their schedule and choose their training centers,” he said.
While Chopra acknowledges the role of belief, he cautions that performance cannot be guaranteed. “It will be on how we do on that day. I strongly believe we all are training hard and doing a Budapest encore is not impossible,” he stated.
Chopra, who holds the world-leading throw of 88.67 meters, will be a favorite in Doha, facing competition from Jakub Vadlejch, Anderson Peters, Max Dehning, and Jena.
