Javelin throwers seek Olympics qualification in Halle, Warsaw meets

India's leading javelin throwers will be chasing their 2016 Olympics berth in two different qualification competitions to be held in Halle (Germany) and Warsaw (Poland) on May 21.

The athletes are currently training at the Olympics Training Centre in Spala, Poland.

Neeraj Chopra, the promising 18-year-old athlete who came close to achieving the Olympics qualifying standard at the 2016 South Asian Federation Games with a throw of 82.23 metre, has been invited to throw in the prestigious Halle Meet that is extended to only the top-20 ranked men throwers in the world.

Earlier, three of the javelin throwers competed in the prestigious Rehlingen Germany Weltklasse Meeting.

This major meet witnessed 12 men javelin throwers. Chopra finished fifth in the meet with a throw of 79.51m.

The 2014 Asian Games bronze medallists Annu Rani threw 54.75m while Suman Devi had a best throw of 52.71m.

India's foreign coach Australian Garry Calvert said, the event was affected by the cold condition and seemed to take four-six metres off everyone's throw.

Commenting on the qualification plan for Indian javelin throwers, Calvert said in a release issued by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) here on Thursday, "Indian track and field is on the rise and to have European coaches and athletes sit with us, sends a wonderful message that we are being welcomed and encouraged at the top meets."

"The next step is to take places in these big events and give great experience to our athletes as they prepare to take on future big events."

In addition to the Halle invitation for Neeraj Chopra and the other throwers to compete in Warsaw, they are already lined up to appear in a competition in Belgium on May 28, and three more meets there in June.

"There are competitions within Europe that become available within two to five days which depend on withdrawals and late invitations. This is the dynamics of world level in track and field, with at times 40-50 entries for 12 positions," said Calvert.

--IANS

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