Shivpal can throw up a suprise at Asiad

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, July 21

Javelin thrower Shivpal Singh, 23, may not be India’s top thrower in his discipline, but he is determined to win a medal at his first major competition, the Asian Games. Shivpal surprised everyone at the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Guwahati last month where, with a throw of 82.28m, he won gold and qualified for the Asian Games. That was his lifetime best throw in competition, and he became the latest to join the 80m club after Neeraj and Davinder Singh.

In the last couple of years, Indian javelin-throwing has seen an exponential growth, and Shivpal wants to do his best to make a contribution. “I have been waiting since long for a big opportunity such as this (Asian Games). I am hopeful that the Asian Games will transform my sporting career,” he said.

Born in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Shivpal has been a consistent performer at the national level. He had been introduced to this sport by his uncle, himself a national champion in javelin throw.

Ignored

After former national javelin throw coach Garry Calvert left the Indian team, Shivpal has not been getting adequate coaching opportunities. Before the Guwahati tournament, Shivpal had been overlooked by the current Indian javelin throw head coach, Uwe Hohn, for the tour of Finland for an important training-competition stint before the Asian Games.

Not disheartened by this, Shivpal came up with his biggest throw yet in the Guwahati meet. “In India, you get hardly one or two competition throughout the year, but in Europe you get as many competitions in a week,” Shivpal said.

Confident of medal

With his current ranking of No. 4 in Asia, Shivpal believes he is definitely a medal prospect in the Asian Games. “Qatar is the only formidable competitor for us,” he said. “However, the thrower from Qatar is not in his best form at present.”

Shivpal said he himself is in good form, having hurled the javelin past 85m in recent practice sessions. “Any throw above 84m in the Asian Games would be a gold medal throw,” he said. Neeraj Chopra is presently at top in the Asian rankings with a throw of 85.17m in France this week. 

Top level

Having been out of training for six-seven months due to a knee injury suffered in December 2016, Shivpal feels that now he is at his top level in fitness. “Currently I am in my best form and am consistently throwing above 85m in practice sessions,” he said.

He is presently being trained by Indian coach Kashinath at the National Institute of Sports here.