Kishore Jena Says India Can Win More Than One Javelin Medal At Paris Olympics

Rising men's javelin throw star Kishore Kumar Jena was a top attraction at the launching of the Khelo India Rising Talent Identification programme by the Union minister of youth affairs and sports, Anurag Singh Thakur, at the Sector 7 Sports Complex in Chandigarh on Tuesday. While felicitating the 28-year-old from Odisha, the minister wished him good luck at the upcoming Paris Olympics. The Summer Olympic Games are just a little more than 130 days away and Jena is working hard towards making it a memorable outing for the country along with Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra.

Jena, who is currently training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NSNIS) in Patiala, says India can win more than one javelin medal in Paris.

Jena has been making headlines ever since he went toe-to-toe with Neeraj Chopra at the world athletics meet in Budapest last year. For the first time in the history of the Asian Games, Chopra and Kishore Kumar Jena made it a javelin one-two in Hangzhou 2023. Having qualified for Paris, Jena feels medal prospects in javelin are not only limited to Chopra.

"As per rule, three players can compete from one country in javelin throw. That increases the probability of winning more medals in Paris. We are all training hard for the Summer Games and if we can stay consistent and injury-free, India can do better than Tokyo," said Jena in an exclusive conversation with SAI Media on the sidelines of the KIRTI launch.

"My season has started on a good note as compared to last year. I believe 2024 will be a great season for me. Practice is going well and I am getting support from every quarter be it Sports Authority of India (SAI), TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) or Athletics Federation of India