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Reigning Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to kick off his season at the prestigious Diamond League series in Doha on May 10. The 26-year-old Indian, who won gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, is aiming to defend his Olympic title in Paris later this year.Chopra will face a star-studded field in Doha, including his well-known rivals Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic and Anderson Peters of Grenada. Vadlejch won silver in the Tokyo Olympics and bronze in the 2023 World Championships, while Peters is a former world champion and holds the fifth-longest throw in history (93.07m).Chopra's compatriot Kishore Jena, who finished fifth in the 2023 Budapest World Championships and won silver in Hangzhou with a personal best of 87.54m, will also make his Diamond League debut in Doha.Chopra is eager to start his season strongly and is targeting a throw of over 90m. "This year, my personal goal is to defend my Olympic title, but it would also mean a lot to me to break the 90m barrier," he said. "The Doha Meeting, with good conditions and a great atmosphere, is a perfect opportunity to get my season off to the best start."The javelin event has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with several athletes capable of throwing over 90m. Chopra's continued excellence has raised the bar for Indian athletes, and he is confident that India is making progress as a nation in the sport."Last year my dream was to win the World Championships, but to have three Indian athletes competing in the final - that shows we're progressing as a nation," he said.The Doha Meeting is the third meeting of the 2024 Diamond League series, which comprises 15 legs in total across four different continents. The first two meetings in Xiamen and Shanghai do not have men's javelin throw as a Diamond League event.

Rising javelin star Kishore Kumar Jena is poised to make a mark at the upcoming Paris Olympics, following his impressive performance at the Asian Games and his recent training regimen.Jena, who hails from a farming family in Odisha, has been making waves in the javelin throw since his toe-to-toe battle with Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra at the world athletics meet in Budapest last year. At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, Jena and Chopra made history by securing a javelin one-two finish.With the Paris Olympics just over 130 days away, Jena is confident that India can win multiple javelin medals. "As per rule, three players can compete from one country in javelin throw. That increases the probability of winning more medals in Paris," he said.Jena's training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala has been instrumental in his progress. He has been working on improving his core and shoulder strength through various weight training exercises.Jena's season has started on a positive note, and he is optimistic about his performance in 2024. "I believe 2024 will be a great season for me. Practice is going well, and I am getting support from every quarter," he said.Jena's target for the Doha leg of the Diamond League season in May is to continue improving his results and overcome his weaknesses. He values the guidance and support of Chopra, who he considers a mentor rather than a competitor.During the Hangzhou Asian Games, Jena's personal best throw of 87.54m pushed Chopra to give his all, resulting in a monster throw of 88.88m and a gold medal for the Olympic champion. Jena's silver medal and qualification for Paris 2024 were significant achievements."At that time, I was happy that I had qualified for Paris 2024. I went up to him (Chopra) and even told him that I have qualified. He boosted my confidence saying I can post a bigger throw," Jena recalled.Jena's aim at his maiden Olympics is to achieve his personal best. "Like everyone, my aim is to win a medal, but that is not entirely under my control," he said.

Madhya Pradesh's Ekta Pradeep Dey shattered the women's national U-20 record in the 3,000m steeplechase, clocking an impressive 10:10.08secs at the 22nd National Junior U-20 Federation Athletics Championships. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous record of 10:29.50 secs and met the Asian U-20 qualification time of 11:30.00.Odisha's Dondapati Mrutyumjaya also made headlines, winning the 200m in a blistering 21.59 secs. This time not only secured him the title but also surpassed the Asian U20 qualification time of 21.60secs. Mrutyumjaya had previously won the 100m on Saturday, clocking 10.67 secs, narrowly missing the qualification mark by 0.17secs.Uttar Pradesh's javelin throwers dominated the competition, with Dipanshu Sharma claiming the title with a throw of 68.89m. Rohan Yadav secured silver with a throw of 68.29m, while Uttarakhand's Ajeet Kumar Yadav took bronze with 66.94m. All three throwers surpassed the qualification mark of 65.49m.Gujarat's Laxita Vinod Sandilea completed a double, adding the 800m title to her 1500m victory on Sunday.Junior national chief coach Nagapuri Ramesh expressed confidence in India's performance at the upcoming Junior Asian Athletics Championships in Dubai and the junior worlds in Lima, Peru. He attributed the recent success of Indian athletes to the inspiration provided by Neeraj Chopra's Olympic and World Championships gold medals in javelin.

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic gold medalist in javelin throw, is gearing up for his return to outdoor competition in 2024. The 26-year-old is currently training in Turkey and is confident of being in top form for the upcoming season.Chopra's preparation for the Tokyo Olympics was hampered by injuries, but he has since bounced back strongly. He won a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships and set a new personal best of 89.94 meters at the Stockholm Diamond League meet."I want to be in the best possible shape before Paris," Chopra said. "My training sessions have gone off really well so far. I always lay stress on fitness along with strength and technique."Chopra is not setting any specific targets for the upcoming season, but he is confident of continuing his good form."I have won medals in two World Championships, threw my personal best, won a dream Diamond League title, and even defended my gold at the Asian Games," he said. "All in all, I have been in great space and want to carry forward that momentum from May onwards."Chopra is aware of the increasing competition in javelin throw, but he is not fazed by it."What matters to me is staying 100 percent fit, being consistent during the season, and delivering on the day that matters," he said. "I think there are mistakes to fix and looking at the increasing competition all around, one has to keep improving."Chopra is a role model for young athletes in India and is an inspiration to many. He is a true champion and a credit to his country.

Rohit Yadav's Olympic Dream: A Race Against TimeLast July, Indian javelin thrower Rohit Yadav underwent elbow surgery, setting the clock ticking towards the 2024 Paris Olympics. With the countdown clock looming large at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), Yadav's social media post captured the urgency of his mission: "362 days, 7 hours, 12 minutes, 13 seconds."Yadav's journey to Paris has been marked by both triumph and adversity. In 2021, he shattered the national record with a throw of 85.47 meters, earning him a spot at the Tokyo Olympics. However, a nagging elbow injury hampered his performance, forcing him to undergo surgery.Undeterred, Yadav has embarked on an intensive rehabilitation program at IIS. Under the guidance of renowned physiotherapist Dr. Nikhil Latey, he is working tirelessly to regain full range of motion and strength in his elbow."The recovery process has been challenging, but I'm determined to get back to my best," said Yadav. "I'm grateful for the support of my team and the facilities at IIS, which have made this journey possible."Yadav's coach, Uwe Hohn, a former Olympic champion, believes in his athlete's potential. "Rohit has the talent and the determination to succeed," said Hohn. "He has overcome adversity before, and I'm confident he will do it again."As the clock continues to tick down, Yadav remains focused on his goal. He knows that the road to Paris will be arduous, but he is prepared to give it his all."I'm not just competing against other athletes," said Yadav. "I'm competing against time. I'm determined to make the most of every second and give myself the best chance of success in Paris."

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, expressed confidence in his preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024. Speaking at the RevSportz Trailblazers Conclave 2.0 in Kolkata, Chopra emphasized that he is in peak condition and believes his best performances are yet to come."I am training hard and feeling good," said Chopra. "I feel I am yet to perform to the best of my abilities. I also get a feeling that this is the best prepared I have ever been. It will get better in the days to come."Chopra, who is one of India's top medal prospects for the Paris Games, acknowledged the intense competition he will face. "Competition will be tough. A young German has recently cleared 90m. And I will be defending my title. I enjoy this competition," he said.Olympic gold medalist shooter Abhinav Bindra, who also spoke at the conclave, stressed the importance of embracing pressure at the highest level. "There will be pressure. Nobody likes it. The point is, you have to accept it. An athlete has to learn to coexist with pressure and find out a way to work with it. That can come only with acceptance and adaptability."Cricket icon Sourav Ganguly emphasized the value of consistent effort and preparation. "It is like a board exam, for which you do not prepare for three days but for an entire year. It becomes part of your system. You are well prepared, then there is no panic. And this is no rocket science. You have to keep doing the same thing every day. Also, one has to switch off at times."Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla highlighted the importance of creating a supportive environment for athletes. "An athlete must feel secure that his requirements are taken care of so that he or she can concentrate on what they are doing. We give them that and expect them to do their best. It may or may not result in a medal. We have to work on creating bench strength as well," he said.Chopra's confidence and the support of his fellow athletes and administrators bode well for India's medal hopes at the Paris Olympics. The javelin thrower's determination to push himself further and his belief in his abilities suggest that he is poised to deliver another stellar performance on the world stage.