Javelin thrower Kishore Jena.
| Photo Credit: Okay.R. Deepak
Asian Games silver medallist javelin thrower Kishore Jena says he was on verge of quitting the game in 2023 after a string of poor performances however he heeded to his father’s recommendation, resulting in a revival of his profession.
Jena admitted that Neeraj Chopra’s Tokyo Olympics gold medal motivated him to attain extra in his sport however he discovered it tough to get the large throws and considered quitting the game in July final yr simply earlier than the World Championships.
“When Neeraj won at the Olympics, we celebrated and enjoyed his victory. But honestly, the victory also left me dejected because I too was playing the same sport. I felt it was time for me to achieve something in sports,” Jena stated.
“I participated in Lebanon National Championships after a dip in my rankings and produced a throw of 78m. Despite giving it my all, I couldn’t achieve much. I started doubting if all the hard work was worth it. I called my father, who encouraged me to participate in next competition in Sri Lanka,” he stated on the present ‘The Dreamers’ on JioCinema.
Jena received in Lebanon (on July 21) with a throw of 78.96m, which by any normal was a modest efficiency. In reality, Jena couldn’t breach the 80m mark until the tip of 2022. His first 80m-plus throw got here in March 2023 through the Indian Grand Prix in Thiruvananthapuram the place he got here up with 81.05m effort.
“I decided the event in Sri Lanka (July 30) would be my last attempt, after which I would quit and go back to prioritizing work and family. With God’s grace, I performed well, producing a throw of 84.38m which led to my qualification for the World Championships.” Jena certified for the Budapest World Championships in August 2023 via world rating quota. He couldn’t breach the automated qualification mark of 85.20m.
“I performed well in the World Championships as well, achieving a personal best of 84.77m,” stated Jena who completed fifth within the closing whereas Chopra received the gold with 88.17m.
“I followed it up with another personal best of 87.54m at the Asian Games (in Hangzhou, China where he won a silver behind Chopra) securing my ticket to Paris 2024. I now want to give my best at Paris. I am quite confident. While I haven’t set any particular targets, I am aiming to improve my personal best.” Jena is at the moment struggling for kind as he has crossed the 80m mark simply as soon as within the six occasions he has taken half after the World Championships. He threw 80.84m to win a bronze medal on the National Inter-State Championships in Panchkula in June and that was his season’s greatest thus far.
