World Athletics Championships 2023: Chopra, the one to beat

India’s Neeraj Chopra during the men’s javelin throw qualification at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest yesterday. Pic/AP;PTI

Several storylines and subplots were generated during the couple of hours of the World Championship Javelin qualifiers. For the first time ever, in Indian track and field history, three Indians, made it to the final of the javelin throw; Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, reigning Commonwealth Games Champion, after a poor opening of 70.63m, uncorked a powerful third throw of 86.79, his best of the season, setting up what could be a mouth-watering India v Pakistan final battle;
Anderson Peters, reigning World Champion, just couldn't get going, crashing out with a below-par 78.49m.

But what would go down in history, a trailblazer of sorts, a marker that would bring in the young, throwing javelins across the nation, a Finland in the making, are three Indians, including the Olympic Champion, Diamond League Champion and the 2022 World Championship silver medallist Neeraj Chopra making it to the final. Chopra was expected. All he needed were ten seconds, a throw of 88.77, job done.

DP Manu and Kishore Jena

DP Manu finished 3rd in Group A (78.10, 81.31, 72.40), 6th overall; Kishore Jena, finished 5th in Group B (80.55, 78.07, X) and 9th overall.

Amidst the gloom, especially in the triple and long jump, Avinash Sable's failure to enter the 3,000m steeplechase final, javelin's success is like the sun breaking through dark clouds.

Chopra, the consummate professional, sage-like in his self-analysis, said, "It becomes a habit slowly and believe in yourself. I'm just afraid of injury and it just seems that only injury can mess up things. I will take care of everything else, no problem. I wasn't making much effort (today), I was just trying to throw in line. We have coaches, physios to help but I feel that as an athlete you should understand your own body. I think when we are on the ground, we should focus on ourselves and give 100 per cent."

Exactly what he did. A couple of days before the qualifying, Neeraj had explained how his first World Championship (2017, London) was a big learning lesson and how he now tries to achieve qualifying in his first throw. "Qualifying is priority, the sooner you get that out of the way, the better," he had explained. 88.77 not only sent him straight into the final, it also sets him up as the man to beat on Sunday.

Neeraj also spoke about Manu. "I had a feeling Manu maybe was checking the runway. I felt that he threw the javelin at a low height and should have given a little more height and if he had thrown at point, he probably could have thrown better because he was throwing well. I liked the second throw (81.31m) very much according to the line and Manu has very good capacity."

However, Chopra's throw could have been almost disqualified. By micro-inches. The tip of the fingers almost touched the line, that moment when velocity and momentum, throws you to the ground and your right arm sticks out to break the fall. Luck held. His fingers grabbed at the Mondo surface like talons.

Anything can happen in a final. It's about handling the pressure.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem is in the second spot (86.79) with Czechoslovakia's Jakub Vadlejch (83.50) and Germany's Julian Weber (82.39) bringing up the overall rankings (12 feature in the final).

Chopra looks forward to the final. "I will do a little training, stretching and cool down now, relax in the evening and do some fast training tomorrow [Saturday]."
Arshad Nadeem brings in that pot-boiler element of an India v Pakistan thriller to the World Championships final; after cricket and hockey, track and field will generate a similar excitement.

Nadeem, however, played it down: "Main Neeraj bhai ko best of luck bolta hun, Neeraj bhai aap bhi accha kare final mein or main bhi accha Karun final mein aur umeed hai ki World me hamara bhi naam ho. Best of luck Neeraj bhai, you also do well in the finals, and I will also do well, and we will create a name in the world."