Neeraj Chopra, India’s golden boy in javelin throw, has a dream for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. It’s not just about defending his Olympic Gold, but also about sharing the podium with his compatriot, Kishore Jena. This shared dream signifies a new era in Indian athletics, where the country’s athletes are not just competing but also dreaming big together.
Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, has been training intensively in Antalya, Turkey, fine-tuning his body as the off-season winds down. His mind, however, is already in Paris, visualizing the grand stage of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Neeraj’s journey has been nothing short of inspirational. From a young boy in Panipat, Haryana, to becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics at the Olympics, his story is a testament to hard work, determination, and an unwavering belief in oneself.
On the other hand, Kishore Jena, a rising star in Indian athletics, has been making steady progress. He won a silver medal at the Asian Games and finished 5th in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. These achievements have sparked hopes of more glory in the Olympic year.
“Kishore Jena could breach the 90m mark before me,” says Neeraj Chopra
Both Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena will begin their 2024 seasons at the Doha Diamond League in May and Neeraj is hopeful that his compatriot will continue to improve after a breakthrough season in 2023.
Neeraj has been vocal about his admiration for Kishore’s progress. He believes that Kishore has improved a lot in terms of his distance. Neeraj even joked that Kishore might get to the elusive 90m mark before him. This camaraderie and mutual respect between the two athletes are heartening to see and bode well for the future of Indian athletics.
“This might be a big dream-come-true moment for India. From our country, at the Olympics, two people standing on the podium will be a huge moment. If there are more than two, then it’s even better. At the Asian Games, it happened. If it happens in the Olympics, it will be a huge moment of joy. It will bring a different level of satisfaction for all of us, all of us Indians,” Neeraj said in an interaction Thursday.
“I have been stuck between 88m and 90m from 2018. Who knows you guys keep asking me the 90m question, who knows Kishore achieves the landmark before me. It would be great. Yes, we have come a long way in javelin, but that 90m mark has to be achieved,” Neeraj said.
NNIS SPORTS: Kishore Jena has taken his game to a different level; he won the silver in the Asian Games with a throw of 87.54m, reached the World Championships final, and now he's ready to make his debut in the Diamond League. How do you see his progress?
Neeraj Chopra:… pic.twitter.com/fINVZxa3PK
— nnis (@nnis_sports) April 11, 2024
As the duo prepares for the Paris Olympics, they carry the hopes and dreams of a billion people. Their journey is not just about their individual aspirations but also about inspiring a generation of future athletes.
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