BHUBANESWAR: The buzz was back at the Kalinga stadium on Wednesday. The Federation Senior Athletics Championships concluded with the Neeraj Chopra show that saw the Olympic champion battle hot and humid conditions and a feeble challenge from his teammates to win the gold in javelin.
The champion from Haryana was unhappy with his performance but didn't disappoint the fans who gathered to get a glimpse of the golden boy. Chopra, who had a tough time keeping his focus during warm-up with even officials getting up close to garland him or pose for photographs, opened with a modest throw of 82m but that was only good enough for the second place with Karnataka's Manu DP opening with 82.06m.
The lead stayed with the young Asian silver medallist, till the fourth round as Chopra fouled his second and recorded an 81.29m on his third. With the top-8 advancing to the last three rounds, Chopra, now shining in his black striped T, was first to go. Hundreds of fans cheered his every stride till the release point and Chopra knew it was another modest effort. The display board showed 82.27, but that was enough for the day.
Uttam Balasaheb Patel of Maharashtra shocked the field to bag the bronze with a best of 78.39m. Asiad silver medallist Kishore Kumar Jena disappointed again as he settled for the fifth place with a 75.49m.
'We need to compete like the Germans'
"As I had returned from Doha (Diamond League), my recovery was not that good. So, from the start I knew that my effort would depend on how my body responds. That is why I didn't take the last two throws. Also, I have to compete in Ostrava (May 28) in less than two weeks," the champion said at a crowded press conference later.
"It was a great feeling to compete in India after a long time. I'm happy to see so many people turning up to watch athletics." Asked whether competing here was a planned stop ahead of Olympics Chopra said: "This meet suited me as the Inter-State was clashing with the Diamond League in Paris. This was an easy stop after competing in Doha. I don't want to talk about my throws, which were below par but, I loved the atmosphere with so many people turning up to watch athletics. I had trained here before Tokyo Olympics and I also had Jaganathji ka aashirvad."
Neeraj also said that if Indians can maintain high standards and push each other in domestic meets then international success will follow. "Remember the Germans when (Andreas) Hofmann, (Thomas) Rohler, (Johannes) Vetter & (Julian) Webber competed, they used to push each other, and they touched 90m in their nationals.
So, when they competed in Worlds and Diamond League, the Germans always used to finish first or second. Likewise, if we can push each other (me, Jena & Manu) and throw 85m plus we will enjoy competing together at the international meets," he said.
