Nearly 100 Javelin Throwers have registered to compete in eight categories in the third AFI National Open Javelin Throw Championships at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here this weekend. The competition is the last of the 14 National-level competitions conducted by the Athletics Federation of India this year.
With seven of the country’s best Javelin Throwers in the ongoing National camp and six others attending the Assessment Camp in the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, the National Championships offer a good opportunity for the others to not only win medals but also catch the eye of the talent scouts.
“Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal in the Olympic Games earlier this year has sparked keen interest in Javelin Throw among youngsters, but it is too early for that to translate as more entries in national-level competitions, especially at a time when the pandemic has made it difficult for athletes to train,” Athletics Federation of India President Adille J. Sumariwalla said.
More boys and girls vying for honours in the U18 and U16 categories here than in the Javelin Throw events in the National Junior Championships in Guwahati earlier this year. “It is pleasing to note that more and more youth are drawn to athletics and prepare themselves to compete at the highest level in the country,” Mr. Sumariwalla said.
“It has been AFI’s endeavour to offer quality competition experience to all our athletes and by streaming them live on the Web. I am glad we have been able to go through the full quota of national-level competitions, except the National Inter-District Junior Athletics Meet, this year against all odds,” he said. “Our resolve to make athletics more popular has only got stronger.”
