Bhubaneswar, May 13 : Star javelin throwers Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena have earned direct entry into the Federation Cup finals scheduled to be held here on May 15, having surpassed the minimum qualification mark of 75m on multiple occasions in their careers.
Olympic and world champion Chopra recently showcased a commendable performance at the Doha Diamond League, finishing second with a throw of 88.38m. On the other hand, Asian Games silver medalist Jena’s Diamond League debut ended in disappointment as he was eliminated after three rounds, with his best throw being 76.31m.
DP Manu, who secured the sixth position in the 2023 World Championships and is aiming to qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympics by surpassing the 85.50m mark, will also directly compete in the finals.
Indian athletics head coach Radhakrishnan Nair stated, “All those who have crossed 75m will not compete in the qualifying round on Tuesday. There are nine of them from among those who had made entries, including Neeraj and Jena. They will directly compete in the final on Wednesday.”
He added, “The remaining athletes who have not yet achieved the 75m mark will compete in the qualifying round, and the top three among them will join the nine above-75m throwers in the final.”
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is eagerly anticipating 26-year-old Chopra’s first competitive appearance on home turf in three years.
“The AFI is pleased to see Neeraj participating in the Federation Cup. His involvement in domestic events is highly beneficial for Indian athletics,” said a top official of the AFI.
Chopra’s last domestic event was the Federation Cup in March 2021. The AFI has been keen on his participation in a domestic event after his gold-winning performance in the Tokyo Olympics and ahead of the Paris Games.
Meanwhile, AFI is still hopeful about the mixed 4x400m relay team’s qualification for Paris Olympics despite its setback during the World Relays in Bahamas. Only two slots remain up for grabs, and the team will compete in the Asian Relays in Bangkok on May 20-21 to secure qualification.
In addition, the AFI is expected to unveil a strategic plan aimed at winning multiple medals in the 2036 Olympics, regardless of India’s bid to host the Games.
