Three Indian competitors, Neeraj Chopra, DP Manu, and Kishore Jena, qualified for the men's javelin throw final, making the World Athletics Championships 2023 a historic occasion for India. A significant turning point in Indian athletics has been reached with the first appearance of three Indians in the championship final.
Live stream of the World Athletics Championships final
Anurag Thakur, India's sports minister, sent his best wishes to the trio competing for the top three spots in the global championships.
"Good luck with your World Championship final performances, Neeraj Chopra, Manu DP, and Kishore Jena. The entire nation is with you," Thakur tweeted late on August 17 on Twitter.
The current Olympic champion and silver medalist from the 2022 World Championships, Neeraj Chopra, took the lead with a strong performance. With just one throw, he won the qualification round with a season-best throw of 88.77 meters, ensuring his spot in the championship round. He also exceeded the javelin throw entrance criterion for the Paris 2024 Olympics, further solidifying his position as one of the best javelin throwers in the world.
DP Manu, who earlier this year took home the silver medal from the Asian Athletics Championships, performed admirably as well. Even though his warm-ups weren't the finest, he still managed to qualify in sixth place with a best effort of 81.31m. His goal was to set a new personal record, and he definitely succeeded.
Their qualification for the final is evidence of the development of athletics in India, especially in the javelin throw discipline. The potential of Indian athletes on the international scene is also demonstrated. The entire country will be excitedly watching and supporting them as they prepare for the final in the hopes of a historic victory at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
With an 80.55m throw, Kishore Jena, competing in his first competition outside of Asia, qualified for the 12-man final. In the standings, he came in eighth. As the ninth-ranked athlete, his first try, which measured 80.55m, was enough to get him to the final.
