Neeraj disappoints but Davinder qualifies
NEWDELHI:India’s Neeraj Chopra failed to make the cut for the men’s javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships in London. His best in the preliminary round was 82.26m. The qualifying mark was 83m.
After the event, the world junior record holder said absence of his coach had affected his performance. “Had there been a coach, it would have been different,” he said after his preliminary round.
Five qualified from Group A where Chopra was pitted against 14 other throwers.
The good news for India however is that Davinder Singh has qualified for the final from Group B --- that has 16 throwers. Davinder Singh finished fifth in his group with a throw of 84.22m. His opening throw was 82.22m, second was 82.14m and third was 84.22m. His season best is 84.57m.
Deputy national coach Radhakrishnan Nair, who was overseeing the javelin throwers’ training in London said, “There wasn’t any pressure on him. He was confident because he has been regularly hitting the 83m mark. But he failed to click at the right time,” Nair told Hindustan Times over phone from London.
MISSING TRAINING Chopra’s performance since June -- he had three marks of over 84m --- had raised hopes of a good show at the World Championship. He had also participated in two Diamond Leagues---Paris and Monaco--- where he finished fifth and seventh respectively.
But according to Nair, Neeraj was traveling a lot and had missed training sessions after the Asian Championship in July. “He should have focused on training than compete in the Monaco Diamond League (in the end of July),” he said.
Chopra’s season best of 85.63m (Federation Cup, Patiala) had catapulted him to 14th in the world ranking.
However on his debut at the senior level the 19-year old fell short of expectations. He managed 82.26m in his first attempt. His second was ‘no throw’. Usually he manages his best in the third and final throw, but here he threw 80.54m. He finished seventh in the group.