Hits 85.47m, is 2nd javelin thrower after Neeraj Chopra to get Olympics berth

Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, March 11

Javelin thrower Shivpal Singh, 24, finally booked his maiden Olympics berth when he hurled the spear to a distance of 85.47m at a meet in Potchefstroom, South Africa, late on Tuesday, clearing the qualifying mark of 85m.

Shivpal became the second Indian javelin thrower after Neeraj Chopra to qualify for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

Shivpal, who hails from Chandauli in Uttar Pradesh, had missed the qualifying mark in many events since the qualifying timeline for the Olympics started.

In October last year, Shivpal had missed the Tokyo ticket narrowly in the World Military Games in Wuhan, when he had a best throw of 83.33m. Two months later, in December, Shivpal again came close to the qualification mark in the South Asian Games in Kathmandu, where he hurled the spear to 84.16m but couldn’t qualify.

This year too he continued to throw close to the qualifying mark, but he missed out in the build-up tournaments in South Africa where he was throwing in the 80-83m range.

After finally making it, Shivpal said he was “relieved”. Talking to The Tribune over phone, he said: “Finally, I was able to cross the Olympics qualification mark. It (qualification) was getting to my nerves as I was getting frustrated by the day.”

Shivpal, who has been on a training-cum-competition stint abroad since January, said, “I am relieved now. It is one of the best feelings of my life — to compete in the biggest sports event, the Olympics. It came after many failed attempts.”

Talking about the throw that earned him Olympics qualification, Shivpal said he was not happy with the technical part of his throws. He said he could have thrown the spear a few metres farther if he had done better at ‘block’ — a technical part of throwing at the delivery position. “My coach and family both believed that my block was not up to the mark. I will work more on my technique,” said Shivpal.

Threw to 86.23m last May!

Shivpal Singh nearly qualified for the Tokyo Olympics last year when he achieved a personal best of 86.23m in the Asian Championships in Doha on April 23, 2019. ‘’Had it come a week later, in May, when the Olympics qualification began, I would not have to wait for almost one year!” said Shivpal. “One year is a long time and it had started to play on my mind. I come from a family of throwers. My father, brother and cousins were all getting restless. They are fine now and I too am relaxed. I can focus on the Olympics now.”

The thrower said he has worked hard on his fitness and his physical parameters have improved a lot in the last one year. “With this fitness I should have done much better. There is a slight problem with my technique. Once this gets sorted out I can do much better,” he said. The 24- year-old will be training in South Africa till March 21 and may come to India for the Federation Cup, to be held in Patiala in April. He then also wishes to take part in the international Diamond League in Doha to test himself against the top throwers. “Let’s see how it pans out,” he said. Gaurav Kanthwal