New Delhi: India’s leading javelin throwers who are currently training at the Olympics Training Centre in Spala (Poland) will be chasing their 2016 Olympics berth in two different qualification competitions to be held in Halle (Germany) and Warsaw (Poland), both on May 21.
Neeraj Chopra, the promising 18-year-old athlete who came close to achieving the Olympics qualifying standard at the 2016 SAF Games with a throw of 82.23m, has been invited to throw in the prestigious Halle Meet that is extended to only the top-20 ranked men throwers in the world.
Earlier, in the first week of their training in Europe, three of the javelin throwers competed in the prestigious Rehlingen Germany Weltklasse Meeting.
This major throws meet witnessed 12 men javelin throwers, all with a personal best throws ranging from 84-92 metres. Chopra finished fifth in the meet with a throw of 79.51 metres in a world-class competition where four Germans finished with a winning throw of 84 metres.
The 2014 Asian Games bronze medallists Annu Rani threw 54.75 metres while Suman Devi had a best throw of 52.71 metres in a field which featured the Germans world No.2 Christine Obergfall (Personal Best 70m) and No. 3.
Christine Hussong (PB 66m). India’s foreign expert for javelin throw, coach Garry Calvert from Australia, said, the event was affected by the cold condition and seemed to take four-six metres off everyone’s throw, with the favourite Hussong winning the women’s event in 61 metres.
Commenting on the qualification plan for Indian javelin throwers, Calvert said, “Indian track and field is on the rise and to have European coaches and athletes sit with us, sends a wonderful message that we are being welcomed and encouraged at the top meets. The next step is to take places in these big events and give great experience to our athletes as they prepare to take on future big events.”
In addition to the Halle invitation for Neeraj Chopra and the other throwers to compete in Warsaw, which is a 90-minute drive from Spala, the Australian coach revealed he has already lined up a competition for Indian throwers in Belgium on May 28, and three more meets there in June. “There are competitions within Europe that become available within two to five days which depend on withdrawals and late invitations. This is the dynamics of world level in track and field, with at times 40-50 entries for 12 positions,” said Calvert.
The overall mood at the javelin camp is buoyant with all the throwers searching for lifetime best in the weeks to come. Their preparatory drill before the first outing in Germany, consisted of throwing, weights running and agility work out. Commenting on the status of each of these individual throwers, Calvert said, “Over the next few weeks, Neeraj is expected to be in competition fitness as he will be competing in some very challenging meets, while Vipin Kasana, who won the gold medal in the 2016 Federation Cup (76.42 metres) is working on increasing his strength level and has taken a great liking for the facilities at Spala and the natural forest surrounding the camp.”
India’s top women javelin thrower Annu Rani has been focused as always, at the Spala training camp. “Her training throw consistently reach her current National record and we are looking forward to transitioning that into competition here in Europe. She completed three hard competitions in India over 12 days and competed in Germany on Monday night.” The other women thrower in the reckoning, Suman Devi has resumed her training well after sickness in April and had two great throwing sessions. National record holder (82.23m) Rajender Singh and Shivpal Singh (PB: 79.77m) reached Spala on Wednesday from Delhi and will commence training today.
