Commonwealth Games 2022: Neeraj Chopra-Led Indian Athletics Team Primed For Best Show After Delhi

23.07.2022 - 15:53 sports.ndtv.com

The spotlight will be on Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra but the likes of Murali Sreeshankar and Avinash Sable are also strong medal contenders as the Indian athletics team eyes its best Commonwealth Games show away from home in the upcoming edition in Birmingham.

Woman javelin thrower Annu Rani and 38-year-old discus thrower Seema Antil, the most decorated Indian at the CWG with three silver and one bronze, could also finish on the podium, while India is expected to win more than one medal in men's triple jump event.

With several world-class athletes emerging, especially after Chopra won a historic athletics gold in Tokyo Olympics last year, India would be looking for at least half a dozen medals in the July 28 to August 8 Games.

The country's best athletics medal haul had come at the Delhi CWG in 2010 with 2 gold, 3 silver and 7 bronze. That performance will surely be difficult to match but the Indians would be looking for their second best show ever.

athletics CWG 2022 Neeraj Chopra Murali Sreeshankar Usa Tokyo India Birmingham Delhi

On August 7 this year, on the first anniversary of Neeraj's historic gold medal finish at the Japan National Stadium when he sealed the deal with a majestic throw of 87.58m, the first National Javelin Day was celebrated in the country. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) had earlier announced that from now on August 7 will be commemorated as National Javelin Day. According to AFI President Adille J Sumariwalla, this step has been taken to promote the sport at the grassroots level to encourage more and more kids to take up javelin, with Neeraj as their shining idol. As many as 32 State and Union Territory units affiliated to the AFI organised Javelin competitions on August 7. The competitions were held in various categories like, U-14, U-16, U-18, U-20 and Men's. The U-14 category of the Delhi State competition was won by 13-year-old Taksh Lohiya.

Commonwealth Games 2022: India's haul of fame in Birmingham

CWG medal rush is another step in the right direction after the high of Tokyo OlympicsBIRMINGHAM: After the Tokyo Olympics, where India won an unprecedented seven medals, expectations from the country's 2022 Commonwealth Games contingent were naturally high. Traditionally, India wins truckloads of medals at the CWG. Before Birmingham 2022, anticipation of medals was there, but not a deluge.

Commonwealth Games 2022: Sable Soars, Paul Leaps, Sharath Sizzles To Script India's Success Story

Slipping out of the usual top-five was seen as a real possibility in absence of shooting but phenomenal success in athletics and lawn bowls propelled India to a commendable fourth place finish at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games. About 25 percent of India's 66 medals came from the shooting range in the previous edition and not many believed that India will be able to touch even 50 but the country ended up with 61, courtesy unprecedented success in track and field events that delivered eight medals, the highest for India in a CWG edition overseas.

Neeraj Chopra Congratulates Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem On Winning Commonwealth Games Javelin Throw Gold

Arshad Nadeem gave Pakistan its first javelin throw gold with a Commonwealth Games record mark of 90.18m. With the feat, Arshad, who was wearing a strapping around his right arm, beat Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo Olympic throw of 87.58m, which helped him win gold, and the World Athletics Championship throw of 88.13m, which helped the Indian athlete win silver. Neeraj had to pull out of the Commonwealth Games due to an injury which he suffered during the recently-concluded World Athletics Championships. Arshad beat a field that had two-time world champion Anderson Peters.

Commonwealth Games: Javelin Thrower Annu Rani Wins Bronze

Annu Rani became the first Indian female javelin thrower to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games on the penultimate day on Sunday. Rani sent the spear to a distance of 60m in her fourth attempt to win a bronze medal for the country.

Commonwealth Games 2022 Day 8 Live Updates: Indian Wrestlers To Start Campaign, Focus On Women's Hockey

CWG 2022 Day 8 Live Updates: After an action-packed Day 7 which saw India collect two medals (1 gold and 1 silver), the main focus will be on the Indian women's hockey team as they take on Australia in the semifinals on Day 8. On Thursday, Sudhir won a historic gold medal in the men's heavyweight para powerlifting, while Murali Sreeshankar won a silver in the long jump.