NEW DELHI: Kishore Jena, one of India's top javelin throwers, recently shared his thoughts on the anticipation surrounding Neeraj Chopra, known as the 'Golden Boy,' and the competition with Pakistan's star athlete, Arshad Nadeem.
In the Paris Olympics, Jena is scheduled to compete in Group A of the men's javelin throw event during the qualification round on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Neeraj and Arshad are both assigned to Group B. To secure a spot in the final, athletes must surpass the qualifying mark of 84.00m.
As he discussed his readiness for the competition, Jena pledged to give his all in his first Olympic appearance. The young athlete remains focused on delivering his best performance on the global stage.
"Preparation is very good, and we are getting a lot of support from here. It will be good. I will give my best. I will play like a finalist. It is my first time, so I will give 100 per cent," Jena told ANI.
Neeraj, the current Olympic and world champion, will be the center of attention as he aims to defend his gold medal. His best throw of the season, 88.36m, was achieved prior to the competition in Paris.
The 26-year-old athlete will be determined to deliver a performance that secures his position at the top of the podium once again.
1/9:Paris Olympics 2024: Challengers to Neeraj Chopra
Agencies
2/9:Neeraj Chopra
<p> Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin thrower, is indeed one of the top contenders for the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, having won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.58 meters<br /></p>Agencies
3/9:Neeraj Chopra
<p>Neeraj Chopra would be looking to lead India to another gold medal on 8th August.</p>Agencies
4/9:Jakub Vadlejch
<p>Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing behind Neeraj Chopra. <br /></p>Agencies
5/9:Jakub Vadlejch
<p> Vadlejch has been one of Neeraj's biggest rivals and has consistently pushed him to his limits. Vadlejch's personal best throw of 90.88 meters makes him a strong contender to win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.<br /></p>Agencies
6/9:Julian Weber
<p> Julian Weber, the German javelin thrower, currently ranked third in the world, achieved a remarkable throw of 88.72 meters at the German Championships last year. <br /></p>Agencies
7/9: Arshad Nadeem
<p>Arshad Nadeem, the Pakistani javelin thrower, has achieved impressive results in recent years, making him a significant contender in the men's javelin throw event. He won the bronze medal at the Asian Games and followed it up with a silver medal at the World Athletics Championship.<br /></p>Agencies
8/9:Kishore Kumar Jena
<p>Kishore Kumar Jena, another Indian javelin thrower, won the silver medal at the Asian Games with a impressive throw of 87.5 meters. As a fellow Indian and a strong competitor, Jena can indeed push Neeraj Chopra to his limits.<br /></p>Agencies
9/9:Anderson Peters
<p>Anderson Peters, the Grenadian javelin thrower, is a two-time World Champion (2019 and 2022) and a silver medalist at the Commonwealth Games. He is indeed one of the strongest competitors in the men's javelin throw event.<br /></p>AgenciesJena, while discussing the hopes pinned on Neeraj, extended his well-wishes to his fellow countryman as he prepares to defend his title.
"You know how much Indian athletics has grown because of Neeraj bhai. Everyone has high hopes for him. It feels good that he is with us. He is staying with us. We wish him well," he added.
The men's javelin event at the upcoming international competition will be a captivating spectacle, with all eyes on Neeraj as he aims to defend his gold medal.
However, the narrative of rivalry also permeates this event, adding an extra layer of excitement.
Beyond the realm of cricket, the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan has also manifested in the javelin arena. The fierce competition between these two nations has been a recurring theme in this sport.
1/10:India’s Olympic gold medals throughout history
Agencies
2/10:1928 First-ever gold
<p>In Amsterdam 1928, India began its three-decade reign over hockey by winning their first Olympic gold, defeating Holland 6-0. Dhyan Chand scored 14 of India's 29 goals in the tournament.<br /></p>Agencies
3/10:1932 Hockey gold medal
<p>Due to the 1928 global economic depression, only India, Japan, and the U.S. competed in hockey at the Los Angeles Games. India defeated Japan 11-1 and the U.S. 24-1.<br /></p>Agencies
4/10:1936 hockey gold medal
<p>Despite dominating in 1928 and 1932, India's hockey supremacy was doubted before the 1936 Berlin Games due to Europe's absence in 1932. Under Dhyan Chand, India silenced doubts by crushing Germany 8-1, securing their third consecutive Olympic gold.<br /></p>Agencies
5/10:1948 hockey gold medal
<p>In a dream final, newly independent India faced their former imperial masters, who had previously avoided Olympic hockey against them. India triumphed, winning 4-0. It was India's first gold medal after independence.<br /></p>Agencies
6/10:Balbir Singh Sr (1952 hockey gold medal)
<p>The 1952 hockey final against Holland was expected to be close due to wet conditions favouring the Dutch and India's reliance on Balbir Singh Sr. However, India convincingly won 3-1, retaining their title.<br /></p>Agencies
7/10:1956 hockey gold medal
<p>In 1956, India won their fifth gold by defeating Pakistan in their first Olympic encounter in Melbourne.<br /></p>Agencies
8/10:1964 hockey gold medal
The Indian hockey team has once again proven its mettle on the global stage, securing a hard-fought 1-0 win against their arch-rivals, Pakistan. This victory marks a significant milestone in India's quest to regain its position as the preeminent force in international hockey.Agencies
9/10:1980 hockey gold medal
After a 16-year drought, the Indian team emerged victorious in Moscow, securing a hard-fought 4-3 win against Spain to claim the gold medal.Agencies
10/10:Abhinav Bindra
<p>Eighty-nine years after Dorab Tata's 1920 dream of an individual Olympic gold for India, Abhinav Bindra achieved it at the 2008 Beijing Games, becoming a national celebrity overnight.<br /></p>AgenciesOver the years, Arshad and Neeraj have engaged in thrilling contests, pushing each other to new heights. As they prepare to face off once again on one of the grandest stages in sports, enthusiasts eagerly anticipate another electrifying showdown between these two exceptional athletes.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated rivalry for the fans, the Asian Games silver medallist gave his take on him and Neeraj facing Arshad and said, "No, it's not like that. Since it's the Olympics, a lot of countries have come. We don't think like that. There is nothing like that. It is friendly when we meet them. I also meet them. There is no such intention."
