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Seven javelin throwers to train in Finland ahead of 2018 Asian Games
Seven male Indian javelin throwers will now train in Finland as foreign expert Uwe Hohn has planned an eight weeks stint from May 15, ahead of the 2018 Asian Games.
Finland is considered as the spiritual home of the javelin. The High Performance Training Centre in Kuortane is where the top javelin throwers of the world hone their skills. Seven male throwers from India will now get to train there as foreign expert Uwe Hohn has planned an eight weeks stint from May 15.
The government will spend over Rs.30 lakh excluding travel expenses on the exposure trip. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) proposal is under process and is likely to be approved by the sports ministry.
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After taking over the coaching reins in October, German athletics legend Hohn was supposed to transform javelin throwing in the country but apart from Neeraj Chopra other throwers have struggled to cross the 80m mark. Neeraj has shown great improvement and won gold in the Commonwealth Games. He just fell short of medal bracket at the Doha Diamond League but broke his own national record with a throw of 87.43. His major goal this year is to break the 90m barrier.
The performance of top two Indian throwers during the CWG highlights the difference between Neeraj and the rest of the field. Neeraj claimed gold with a throw of 86.47m, while Vipin Kasna, who failed to repeat his season’s best of 80.04m, finished fifth with a throw of 77.87m.
In the two domestic competitions held from February 27 to March 8, Neeraj dominated the field with 80m plus marks. In the Indian Grand Prix the gap was huge. Neeraj threw 82.88m while Vipin came second at 80.04m. Amit Kumar took the third place (77.33m). Abhishek Drall’s best throw was 70.97m and fetched him fourth place. Teenage thrower Sahil Silwal was fifth at 70.23m.
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The story was no different at the Federation Cup in March. Barring Neeraj (85.94m) none of the top throwers crossed 80m. Davinder Singh Kang had thrice crossed the 80m mark in 2017 and became the first Indian to reach the final of World championship with a throw of 84.22m. But the bronze medallist in the Asian championship is serving suspension due to doping.
It, therefore, raises a question whether it makes sense to send seven throwers for advanced training in Finland and not focus on the top three for the Asian Games. Also, there is no representation of women throwers. Anu Rani, who won bronze at the Incheon Asian Games, has not been considered for the trip.
Meanwhile, the AFI also plans to send the top quarter-milers for advance training to Poland’s Olympic training centre in Spala. But Polish embassy in India is yet to give dates for submission of visa application.
