javelin throw Archives - Lokmarg

Neeraj Starts Men’s Javelin Throw Campaign Today

By LokMarg 4th October 2023

India’s star javelin thrower, Olympic gold medalist and World Champion Neeraj Chopra will be starting his Asian Games campaign in the final of men’s javelin throw on Wednesday.

Neeraj will compete in the title clash in the javelin throw at 4:35 PM IST.

The athlete had won a gold medal in javelin back in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. With a throw of 88.06 m, he made a mark at continental level, giving signs of a fine future. Previously, he had also secured a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games 2018, with a throw of 86.47 m.

Now five years later, the then 20-year-old upstart has transformed into a living legend at 25 years of age. When it comes to accomplishments and trophies, Neeraj has very little to prove now as he has won it all.

In 2021, he captured an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, with the best throw of 87.58 m. With this, he became the first-ever Indian to win an athletics gold. This victory made him a sensation in the country. Love and support from fans, cricketers, politicians, and Bollywood celebrities made his victory even grander. Suddenly, Neeraj was the talking point all over India, being featured on social media campaigns, advertisements, shows etc. People wondered what he would do next.

In the next few coming months, Neeraj showed that though he had attained the top prize in athletics, there was still plenty for him to prove and win.

2022 was an amazing year for Neeraj, though he missed out on Commonwealth Games 2022 due to an injury.

In June, he made a new national record and finished with a silver medal with a throw of 89.30 metres at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, bettering his own previous national record of 88.07 meters which he had set in Patiala in March last year.

In June again, he gave another sterling performance as he clinched gold in the 2022 Kuortane Games in Finland. Neeraj threw 86.69 m to clinch the top prize in tricky and wet conditions.

He also held the male javelin national record thanks to a throw in the Stockholm Diamond League that measured 89.94 metres, with which he broke his own record. He clinched a silver medal at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Stockholm and broke his own previous record.

At the World Athletics Championships in July, Neeraj Chopra made history by becoming only the second Indian and the first male track and field athlete to take home a medal. He finished second and won the silver medal, realising his aim of winning a World medal with a throw of 88.13 metres. Anju Bobby George won a bronze medal for India in the long jump competition before Neeraj.

In September, Chopra made history by becoming the first-ever Indian to win the prestigious Diamond League trophy, a top-tier athletics competition, achieving the best throw of 88.44 m to clinch one of the biggest wins of his career.

With a gold medal in Asian Games, Olympics, CWG and World Athletics Championships and a Diamond League title, Chopra has won every top prize in the sport. He has set an unprecedented example with his consistency and hunger for gold.

Ahead of start of his campaign, Neeraj spoke about his consistency, “It is not about being consistent in throw, but also in training. Keep training well and work on your technique. This leads to improvement. Last year, I made two national records, it was nice. I made improvements. This year I felt good, but injuries proved to be a temporary obstacle. Feels good to be consistent.”

The only thing that is perhaps left to prove for Neeraj is whether he can touch the 90 m mark. Neeraj himself is looking forward to it, but is not in a hurry. His main focus still remains consistency.

“I am very close to it. I want to hit that throw myself. I believe in the process. Whenever it will happen, it will happen. I am not in a hurry. I am happy with my consistent performances, this is my main focus,” said Neeraj.

This time, his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan is ruled out due to injury. It means, the absence of India-Pakistan rivalry flavour from the continental meet.

The absence of Nadeem however means Neeraj Chopra is the favourite for Gold. (ANI)

Annu Rani Secures India’s 15th Gold With In Women’s Javelin Final

By LokMarg 3rd October 2023

Indian women’s javelin ace Annu Rani, with her season-best throw, claimed India’s 15th gold medal in the final in the ongoing Hangzhou Asian Games, on Tuesday.

Annu touched 62.92m, which was her season’s best throw and topped the chart to win the country its 15th gold in the ongoing Asian Games. Her best throw of the evening came in her fourth attempt.

Sri Lankan javelin thrower, Nadeesha Dilhan, claimed the second spot with her personal best throw of 61.57m while China’s Huihui Lyu claimed the bronze medal with a throw of 61.29m.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Indian athlete Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalath bagged silver in the men’s 800m final.

Afsal had a shot at gold but fell inches short of finishing first. Saudi Arabia’s Essa Ali Kzwani went past the Indian runner towards the end to claim the yellow metal.

Afsal clocked 1:48.43s to claim the silver. The Saudi Arabian athlete surpassed him by 0.39s as he finished the event with a timing of 1:48.05s.

The bronze medal was claimed by Oman’s Husain Mohsin Husain, who clocked 1:48.51s.

Krishan Kumar was the other Indian participating in the race but was disqualified for jostling/obstruction.

In the women’s event, Indian runner Parul Chaudhary etched her name in history, winning a gold in the women’s 5000m.

Returning to the field after bagging a silver medal in the women’s 3000-metre steeplechase on Monday, Parul finished with a timing of 15:14.75 to clinch the gold, becoming the first Indian to win the yellow metal in the women’s 5000m event at the Asian Games. (ANI)

World Athletics C’ships: Neeraj Qualifies For Final

By LokMarg 25th August 2023

India’s ‘Golden Boy’ Neeraj Chopra on Friday produced another sterling performance to seal his spot in the men’s javelin throw final at the prestigious World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The World Athletics Championships 2023 is being held in the Hungarian capital of Budapest from August 19 to 27.

Placed in the Group A Qualifier, Olympic gold medalist Neeraj recorded a massive throw of 88.77m in his first attempt, breaching the qualifying mark of 83.00m.

Neeraj, who went into the championships as world’s top-ranked javelin thrower, didn’t take his second and third attempts. With this massive throw, Neeraj has also qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The qualifying cut of the Budapest 2023, the 19th edition of the world athletics championships, men’s javelin throw competition final is set at 83.00 m.

Last year, the 25-year-old Tokyo Olympic medalist had won the silver medal at the World Championships in Eugene.

Neeraj has already won gold at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He is also the Diamond League winner.

At least 12 players will be going into the final which will take place on Sunday.

Neeraj’s compatriots DP Manu and Kishore Jena will be participating in Group B. Twenty-seven Indian athletes are competing in 15 events at Budapest 23. (ANI)