Rising javelin star Kishore Kumar Jena is poised to make a mark at the upcoming Paris Olympics, following his impressive performance at the Asian Games and his recent training regimen.
Jena, who hails from a farming family in Odisha, has been making waves in the javelin throw since his toe-to-toe battle with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra at the world athletics meet in Budapest last year. At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Jena and Chopra made history by securing a javelin one-two finish.
With the Paris Olympics just over 130 days away, Jena is confident that India can win multiple javelin medals. “As per rule, three players can compete from one country in javelin throw. That increases the probability of winning more medals in Paris,” he said.
Jena’s training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala has been instrumental in his progress. He has been working on improving his core and shoulder strength through various weight training exercises.
Jena’s season has started on a positive note, and he is optimistic about his performance in 2024. “I believe 2024 will be a great season for me. Practice is going well, and I am getting support from every quarter,” he said.
Jena’s target for the Doha leg of the Diamond League season in May is to continue improving his results and overcome his weaknesses. He values the guidance and support of Chopra, who he considers a mentor rather than a competitor.
During the Hangzhou Asian Games, Jena’s personal best throw of 87.54m pushed Chopra to give his all, resulting in a monster throw of 88.88m and a gold medal for the Olympic champion. Jena’s silver medal and qualification for Paris 2024 were significant achievements.
“At that time, I was happy that I had qualified for Paris 2024. I went up to him (Chopra) and even told him that I have qualified. He boosted my confidence saying I can post a bigger throw,” Jena recalled.
Jena’s aim at his maiden Olympics is to achieve his personal best. “Like everyone, my aim is to win a medal, but that is not entirely under my control,” he said.
