The names too are familiar. There is one Neeraj Chopra on whom the burden of winning a medal would be enormous. The Olympic champion has been the most consistent Indian on the circuit. The Diamond League final winner would be hoping to carry on his impeccable form in the world’s greatest athletics event of the year.
The 25-year-old javelin thrower had to take a small break due to a groin strain but ever since June, when he competed at the Lausanne, he has been preparing well at his training bases in Germany and Switzerland. He shifted to Budapest and is set for the World Championships where he would want the silver, which he won during the last edition, turns into gold. Before the world championships, he topped the two Diamond League events with throws of 88.67 (Doha DL) and 87.66m (Lausanne DL). Because of a long season with Asian Games in September-October, he has been taking it easy. He will reach Budapest on Monday.
However, his gold quest will not be easy. His usual competitors have entered their names and Anderson Peters, like last year, would want to crash the party. Peters has thrown above 90m and has beaten Neeraj last year. Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic, who is right now the world leader with 89.51m followed by Julian Weber of Germany 88.72m, is ahead of Neeraj who has 88.67m this season.
World champion Anderson Peters of Grenada has managed 85.88m in Doha DL and has not been too fit. Going by the quotes on the World Athletics website, he claimed to be 75 per cent fit. “I’m 75% back but over the next few days I’ll work with the massage therapist so I can be at least 85 to 90% by the time I compete, better yet 100%.”
However, if anyone could challenge Peters or Vadlejch it has to be Neeraj.If Neeraj is one who could win an India medal, there are others who can add to the tally. Though tough, M Sreeshankar seems primed for a podium finish at the Worlds. He and Jeswin Aldrin are the two world leaders in long jump as of now. While Aldrin jumped 8.42m in March, Sreeshankar cleared 8.41m in June. Sreeshankar had an 8.37m at the Asian Athletics Championships at Bangkok last month and said that the jump, which was his best on foreign soil, would give him a lot of confidence. Aldrin on the other hand believes he will do well at Budapest. “Now I have more experience after last year and I’m also in better condition. Last year I had trouble with an injury and didn’t do well in my national championships, but this season I’ve had no problems. So, physically I am fitter and I am more clear in my mind,” were his flash quotes to WA website.
Of course, beating the Olympic champion and silver medallist of the last edition Miltiadis Tentaglou who too had an 8.41 season’s best will not be easy. Simon Ehammer, who had a bronze at Worlds, too has entered though he has not crossed 8.32m this season. China’s Olympic champion Jianan Wang has not crossed 8.26m this season. Anything is possible and in long jump, one good jump is enough to secure a medal.
India will be keenly following the 3000m men’s steeplechase as well. After Avinash Sable’s silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, there will be a lot of expectation from the athlete who has been improving every race. He would be looking to break the 8:10.00s barrier first before getting into the medal bracket. In the field that has Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia and Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, both of whom have run well below 8 minutes, the challenge to overcome them will be daunting. The next place can be anyone’s including Sable and the Kenyans.