Hangzhou, Oct 4 (FN Agency) India’s Neeraj Chopra signed off on a high by winning a gold in the men’s javelin throw event, but the story of the day was scripted by his compatriot Kishore Kumar Jena who won his first major international medal at the Asian Games 2023 here on Wednesday. Kishore notched up silver after giving anxious moments to the reigning Olympic and world champion Neeraj when he marched ahead of him just before the officials chopped 14 competitors to 8. Though his first throw was not registered due to technical glitch, Neeraj gathered confidence to register a season’s best of 88.88m in his 4th attempt to successfully defend his Asian Games title.
This was Neeraj’s second gold medal haul after winning it at the 2018 Jakarta Games. Kishore, who briefly led Neeraj in the Hangzhou 2023 men’s javelin throw standings, registered 86.77m with his third throw to surpass his previous personal best of 84.77m, registered at the Budapest world championships earlier this year. He went on to improve it to 87.54m with his fourth throw, which eventually won him the silver medal in Hangzhou. Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean took the bronze with an 82.68m mark, which came in his fifth throw. Neeraj’s first throw seemed to be around the 87m-mark to the naked eye but, unfortunately, it wasn’t recorded. The Indian was asked to retake his first throw and logged a not-so-impressive 82.38m with his redo. Kishore followed it up with 81.26m.
Pakistan’s Muhammad Yasir came up with 72.19m with his first throw and slotted the javelin behind the two Indians in the third place. After the first round, Neeraj and Kishore climbed up the charts at the top, and Pakistan’s Yassir slipped down to Roderick Genki Dean and Kenji Ogura overtook him. Neeraj extended his lead at the top in his second throw, coming up with 84.49m which was nearly close to his best, but was enough to add one more medal for India. Kishore threw a distance of 79.76m. An endearing moment of sportsmanship was on display when Neeraj came over to stand near to the throwing line, and observed that Kishore’s throw was legal, contrary to the lineman’s faulty call. Neeraj walked up to him and asked Kishore to lodge a protest with the officials who reversed the decision. After round two, Neeraj, Kishore and Roderick took up the medal positions. Yassir gained 4th place with a 78.13m throw in his fourth attempt, followed by China’s Haoran Hu. Neeraj faulted in his third throw, and unsatisfied with it, he walked outside the line, allowing the officials to account it as a foul and not count.
Kishore leapfrogged Neeraj in his next throw with a personal best of 86.77m, which threw a challenge at his compatriot to do better. Kishore’s previous personal best was 84.77m, which put him fifth at the Budapest world championships earlier this year. After three rounds, 14 competitors were reduced to eight with Kishore leading the pack and Neeraj behind him. Indonesia’s Abd Hafiz with a new personal best of 70.89m, confirmed ninth position, while Chao-Tsun Cheng, Wachirawit Sornwichai and Wai Hei Ricky Hui finished 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively. Neeraj came in with a gem of a throw measuring 88.88m as he snatched the lead from Kishore. This was Neeraj’s fourth-best throw in his career and his season’s best. Earlier, Neeraj threw the javelin at a distance of 89.94m in Stockholm Diamond League 2022 and 89.30m at Paavo Nurmi Games 2022, besides throwing 89.08m at Lausanne Diamond League 2022. Kishore responded with another personal best, an 87.54, with his fourth throw, making the event into a two Indian-race at Hangzhou.