'Two Indian javelin throwers will join 90m club in future': Neeraj Chopra

World and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday said domestic competition in javelin throw will be more exciting in futureThe 25year old Indian star javelin thrower categorically pointed towards Odisharsquos rising javelin thrower and Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Kumar JenaldquoIn future I see two Indian javelin throwers joining the 90m clubrdquo Chopra said on the sidelines of a felicitation ceremony of the Asian Games athletics contingent by the Athletics Federation of India AFIChopra started his season with Doha Diamond League but pulled his groin and had to skip a couple of international events However he recovered from the niggle and bounced back to win gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Hungary and successfully defended his title at the Asian GamesChopra revealed that Jenarsquos performance during the just concluded 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou acted as a catalyst to rekindle his energyldquoIt was a healthy rivalry between me and Jena during the medal round in the menrsquos javelin throw in Hangzhourdquo Chopra addedWhile Chopra won the gold with a throw of 8888m Jena settled for silver with a throw of 8754mAlso Read Fuel for the finish lineBut at one juncture of the javelin competition in Hangzhou Jena took the pole position with a throw of 8677m While Chopra was trailing at second spot with a throw of 8449mThe lead was temporary as Chopra dug deep into his reservoir to hurl the spear to a distance of 8888m to win gold Jenarsquos best throw of 8754m fetched him silverAt the 19th Asian Games Indian athletics contingent won 29 medals six of them gold 14 silver and nine bronzeAdille Sumariwalla president AFI said the Indian squad could have enhanced the gold medal tally in Hangzhou but didnrsquot capitalize on the chances ldquoI will say it was a bad miss in middle distance events and womenrsquos 4x400m relay at the Asian Gamesrdquo Sumariwalla addedSumariwalla who is one of the vice presidents at the World Athletics said the Indian athletes also gave a good account of their performance at the Budapest World Athletics Championship held between August 19 to 27 ldquoWhile Neeraj Chopra was crowned world champion Jena and Manu DP were in top six which suggest the growing stature of Indian javelin throwers at the global stagerdquo Sumariwalla addedBesides the javelin throw the mens 4x400m relay team was impressive and shattered the Asian record during heats at the World Athletics Championships The national team eventually finished fifth in the final and clocked 25992 secondsldquoThe outstanding performance in a packed 2023 season was a big boost to the confidence of the Indian athletes ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Gamesrdquo Sumariwalla addedWith inputs from agencies