Indian Athletics Thread ...

[prasen9]

I felt differently though. If it were somebody else who beat Neeraj and set the record, I would be much more disappointed. I wanted Nadeem or Neeraj to keep a firm grip on Javelin for a few years, and build the reputation that the subcontinental race can be the best in at least one athletic event out there. The longer these two rule, the better for the subcontinent to own the field. The fact is that, thanks to the population in these two countries, if enough people take to ANY sport, we can rule the world. Like we showed in cricket.

I read on whatsapp that there were 3000 kids at the u16 nationals for Javelin in India (may be fake info, but a big number I am sure). Now you watch. There will be 1500 kids in Pakistan too. That is all good.

Maybe another reason why I was glad that Nadeem won, was that he is a friend of Neeraj. Somebody who has openly said that he idolizes Neeraj. How can I not wish that guy well? if it was not going to be Neeraj, I wanted it to be Nadeem. Even better that it was not a failure from Neeraj that caused it, but excellence from Nadeem. I found myself quite fine with it all.

And, for good or for bad, this means that we would be rid of our mentality and athletics needs genes we do not have. All of North India now believes more that we have the genes, strength, and flexibility and mental fortitude for javelin. More so because Nadeem won and Neeraj won the silver instead of Neeraj winning a silver to a German or whoever. Maybe this will also spur the other throw events where the pahelwans (wrestlers) from Haryana who cannot make it in wrestling will move over and find that they are much more suited to throwing than to wrestling. Not suggesting that there is a clear connection between throwing events and wrestling.

[Mugundan]

It is true that there had been an increase in the number of athletes pursuing javelin following Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo gold.
It is also true that javelin happens to be one of the worst hit events by doping in Indian athletics.
Following are some of the names in javelin, either on provisional suspension or undergoing suspension or having completed their suspensions. These are only a few. A bigger search would help me get a larger number!
1. D. P. Manu (currently under provisional suspension)
2. Shivpal Singh
3. Rohit Yadav
4. Rajender Singh Dalvir
5. Vipin Kasana
6. Davinder Singh Kang
7. Arshdeep Singh.
May add some more if I come across.
The problem with any event in Indian athletics is, youngsters show promise, come to under-23 or seniors, find it tough to match others who are already on dope. Thus, are forced to resort to it.
One has to also look at what happens when someone serves a suspension and returns. Or what happens when someone is included in the registered testing pool (RTP) of Indian NADA or the AIU.

[jayakris]

^^^ But is my impression correct, from some of what you have hinted lately, that NADA is beginning to become at least slightly more effective in what they do? Not sure if the Federations are getting serious enough to prevent the issue you mention that many youngsters are resorting to it out of no choice.

[Atithee]

And that’s why it should be legalized. Let people decide their own fate.

[Mugundan]

^^^ But is my impression correct, from some of what you have hinted lately, that NADA is beginning to become at least slightly more effective in what they do? Not sure if the Federations are getting serious enough to prevent the issue you mention that many youngsters are resorting to it out of no choice.

Jay, NADA is testing more out of competition than in the past, I think. But I don't have the annual figures to actually compare. It might not be enough but might be restricting some of them, keeping them alert to the situation that their turn could come.
The youngsters are mainly getting caught in-competition. That shows their inexperience. Once into senior batches, they would learn to manage better. I think the AIU has tightened things at the international level, too. They did some testing at Panchkula during the Inter-State meet there. Perhaps no one was caught but it is a deterrent all the same.
The lesser the stay abroad, the stronger are the chances of the athletes performing below their "induced par". Those in the AIU RTP (minus Chopra) seem to have been kept under check. Chopra being world and Olympic (then) champion would have been tested more.
A sharp rise and an equally sharp fall, over a year or two, clearly indicate doping. From the Paris results you can easily make out where these occurred. That is someone in javelin improves by ten metres in one season and next he comes down by ten metres, you know what is happening. Both NADA and AIU should be complimented for the present scenario. NADA, though, is yet to target the best of the seniors at home in my view. Manu has thus come as a surprise this season.

[Mugundan]

These stories, if you missed them earlier, might provide an idea about what goes on in our country:
Athletes bolt as testers arrive
https://indianexpress.com/article/sport ... l-8957732/
Athletes face NADA heat
https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/o ... 72132.html
Cheats have a free run
https://www.thehindu.com/sport/athletic ... 687639.ece
The scene at JNS

The Haryana scene
https://www.etvbharat.com/english/bhara ... 6702702437

[sameerph]

Neeraj Chopra has changed his plans of surgery and rest and will be competing in remaining diamond leauge events. Looks like he is hungry to put behind his loss in Olympics final. He will participate in Lusanne Diamond league which will be in couple of hours from now. Nadeem wont be there but many others who were there in Paris final will be there.

No Arshad Nadeem, but Neeraj Chopra faces high-quality field and injury concern at Lausanne Diamond League

[jayakris]

^^^ I don't know. I am never in favor of delaying surgeries. It is hernia surgery, if I am not mistaken. Just take care of it first and get it out of the way...

[prasen9]

It's also $30k for a winner's check. Athletes only earn big for a small window of their career. He possibly thinks this is not that much of an issue but a slowly degrading problem. So, he'd rather go for the big wins and checks and then in the off-season get the surgery done.

[sameerph]

Yes, Hernia surgery. Actually this was good time to get it done, next big event so to say is world championships 2025 which in September 2025 ( unless we consider diamond league meets as big meets) , so lot of time to recover.

But, maybe he is hurt by that loss and wants to atone partly with some good performances in these diamond league events.

[jayakris]

It's also $30k for a winner's check. Athletes only earn big for a small window of their career. He possibly thinks this is not that much of an issue but a slowly degrading problem. So, he'd rather go for the big wins and checks and then in the off-season get the surgery done.

But that is chicken feed money for him. Neeraj's brand value right now is US $ 40 million!! 4 crore ($475K) per endorsement, apparently.

[prasen9]

You are right. Minor hernia surgery can wait though and not much of a risk of getting really bad. In normal people. I do not know in javelin throwers what the risk is.

[jayakris]

Anyway, Neeraj with an SB throw of 89.49 today to finish second in the Diamond league, Lausanne, behind Anderson Peters (90.61) who bettered Walcott's 90.16 meet record from 2015... Neeraj went a tad bit longer than the Paris throw, but it is amazing that he just does not get to 90m.

Once again he had only one good throw above 86m and had to come from behind to second with his 6th throw.

[sameerph]

I went to sleep when he was just throwing 82-83 in first 2-3 throws and I thought he is going to finally end up outside medal bracket in a major competition after long time. Glad that he came thru with 85+ in his 5th throw ( that was needed to get into top 3 as only top 3 get to throw 6th time).
And than came up with season best in his 6th throw. Peters came up with 90+ to get ahead of him though.

So, his medal winning streak in competitions goes on. The last competition where he finished outside top 3 was in September 2018 at Ostrava Diamond league. Close to 6 years with medals in every competition. That is unreal consistency not seen among Indians in any sport.

Now, needs to breach that 90+ mark at some point of time which is eluding him.

[Atithee]

I feel Neeraj has plateaued at sub-90. Not sure if he will ever breach that.