CHENNAI: Indian javelin has has not been consistent this year. There have been instances when throwers did not breach Glasgow Commonwealth Games mark (82.61m) until the Federation Cup in Ranchi, which acted as the selection trial to the quadrennial event. Days later, the throwers were given another chance in the form of an Indian Open meet in Ludhiana, in which two throwers qualified (and returned with two medals from Glasgow).
However, things seemed to have changed after the CWG medals. Days later, Ashish Yadav won a silver medal in the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, USA.
Early on Saturday, the 19-year-old from Uttar Pradesh saw his javelin go as far as 74.09m, to seal the medal. He also became the first thrower to bag a U20 World medal since Neeraj Chopra did it in 2016. “This is just the start,” Chopra wrote on social media. “Always a great feeling to see Indian athletes competing and winning at the International level, this one is a little more special for me as a javelin thrower. Super proud of you Ashish on your Silver at the U-20 Worlds,” his post added.
He finished behind South Africa’s Jan-Hendrik Heymans, who won gold with a World U20 leading mark of 80.20m. Ashish’s 74.09m effort is second only to his personal best effort in March this year. At the U20 National throws event in Patiala, the UP teenager threw 74.49m.
Ashish’s silver underlines India’s depth at the junior level. In fact, he was not the only Indian in the final. Tamil Nadu’s T Dharanidharan also took part and finished sixth with an effort of 72.35m. After Chopra’s historic Olympic gold in 2021, javelin throw had seen a meteoric rise. India’s presence in World events in this discipline grew, with different throwers like Kishore Jena, Sachin Yadav, Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav making appearances. Yash Vir – who was inspired by Neeraj’s exploits – took the javelin, worked his way through the ranks and recently stood along with him on the podium with his bronze medal.
While this may not necessarily signal the second coming of Chopra, Ashish’s medal just shows how Neeraj's performances have inspired a new generation of throwers.
