World Athletics Championships: Neeraj Chopra’s ground-breaking impact on Indian javelin’s global rise

Neeraj Chopra added the only missing piece in his trophy cabinet on Sunday, August, winning the Gold in the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships 2023. He ended a nation’s wait in Budapest, dominating the rest of the 12-man field once again, to become the first Indian to win a Gold medal at the global athletics meet.

It was also India’s 3rd medal at the World Athletics Championships after Anju Bobby George’s bronze medal in women’s long jump and Neeraj’s silver medal at the World Championships last year in Eugene. Chopra came up with a best effort of 88.17m in his second attempt to top the high-quality men’s javelin field.

Shift in global dominance

Chopra’s historic Olympic gold medal in 2021 had a profound impact on Indian athletics, particularly in the field of javelin. His victory not only inspired many young Indians to take up the sport but also sparked a significant shift in India’s global standing in the sport.

Chopra’s win at the Olympics caused a seismic shift in Indian athletics. Prior to his victory, countries like Finland and Germany dominated the javelin scene with multiple finalists at the championships. However, Chopra’s triumph has led to an influx of talented Indian javelin throwers, challenging the status quo. In fact, India now boasts a promising group of young javelin throwers, all of whom exhibit immense talent and potential.

Speaking in Lausanne earlier this year, Chopra pointed out that we don’t need another decade to see India’s rise in the javelin circuit.

“I think we don’t need another decade to know what’s changed. For the first time, there were four javelin throwers who crossed the 80m mark in around a year,” said Chopra.

He went on to say that the change is evident, pointing out the achievements of Indians in several Javelin throw events around the globe.

“Two Indian male javelin throwers made the cut for the world championships final and Annu Rani won India’s first medal, a bronze, in the women’s javelin throw competition at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. So we are definitely seeing a change,” Chopra added.

Among these rising stars are DP Manu and Kishore Jena, who have made their mark on the global stage. Manu, a 23-year-old prodigy from Hassan, was trained by Kashinath Naik and rose to prominence in 2022 when he threw a personal best of 84.35m at the Inter-State championships in Chennai. This feat made him the fourth-best Indian javelin thrower of all time and won him the national championships in June 2022.

Kishore Jena, on the other hand, hails from Odisha’s Puri district. Despite not being among the top-tier javelin throwers in India until recently, Jena’s remarkable improvement over just six months has caught everyone’s attention. He has achieved three throws beyond the 80m mark in the current season, elevating himself to the ranks of India’s top javelin throwers.

Both Manu and Jena joined Neeraj Chopra in the final of the Men’s javelin Throw event at the World Athletics Championships 2023, marking a new chapter in Indian athletics history. Their stories of overcoming financial constraints and rigorous training regimes serve as an inspiration for aspiring athletes across India.

Chopra’s impact on Indian javelin throwing has been transformative. His success has not only inspired a new generation of athletes but also paved the way for India’s rise in the global javelin circuit. With promising talents like DP Manu and Kishore Jena following in his footsteps, the future of Indian javelin throwing looks brighter than ever.