New Delhi: It was another dream evening for Indian athletes at the Hangzhou Asian Games, with the icing on cake being men’s javelin.
Neeraj Chopra was everyone’s favourite for gold, considering his pedigree. He is, after all, the poster boy of world javelin, having won gold medals in the Olympics and World Championships.
He added the Asian Games gold on Wednesday evening with a season’s best throw of 88.88 metres, but after being given a run for his money by fellow-Indian and Odisha’s darling Kishore Kumar Jena, who finished a close second.
So focussed and charged up was Jena at the Hangzhou Main Stadium that he went on to better his personal best of 84.38 metres achieved earlier this year – not once, but twice. He first hurled the javelin to a distance of 86.77 metres and then 87.54m on his next attempt.
Jena was actually leading his ‘idol and big brother’ Neeraj at the half stage of the competition.
The 28-year-old Puri-born javelin thrower had more reasons to celebrate today, as he qualified for next year’s Paris Olympics. The qualifying mark was 85.04 metres, which he surpassed by 2-and-half metres.
Kishore kumar Jena improves to 87.54m, Neeraj Chopra takes pole position 88.88m https://t.co/oUsprqkrKH
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) October 4, 2023
Neeraj was as delighted as Jena.
“I am really very happy for Jena.. he qualified for the Olympics. He held the lead at one stage also,” Neeraj said in an interview to Sony TV.
Asked how he felt when he trailed Jena, Neeraj said it happens in any competition.
“The lead can change hands in the competition. My first throw was not counted… I had arguments with officials also. But I continued to believe in myself till the last throw. I have more experience which helped,” said Neeraj.
Jena was as humble as ever.
“I trying to give my 100% and I’m glad it happened and I did personal my best and broke it also.”
Describing Neeraj as his idol and elder brother, Jena said he always tries to learn from Neeraj.
