Indian javelin thrower Kishore Jena, who won a silver medal at the Asian Games, finished ninth in Group A during the men’s javelin throw qualification round at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday. Jena’s top throw of 80.73 meters was insufficient to advance him to the medal round. Only the top four from Group A moved forward, and athletes needed to be among the top 12 across both groups to qualify for the final.
Jena’s best throw came on his first attempt. His second throw was invalid, and his third throw measured 80.21 meters.
In contrast, Finland’s Toni Keranen secured a place in the final with a personal best throw of 85.27 meters, surpassing the 84.00 meters qualification mark. Germany’s Julian Weber (87.76 meters), Kenya’s Julius Yego (85.97 meters), and Czechia’s Jakub Vadlejch (85.63 meters) also qualified for the final.
India’s defending Olympic champion and World Championships gold medalist, Neeraj Chopra, is set to compete next. Chopra, who has a season’s best of 88.36 meters from the Doha Diamond League in May and holds the national record of 89.94 meters, is anticipated to progress through the qualification round. The real test for him will be in the final on Thursday, where he will face strong competitors including Vadlejch, Grenada’s Anderson Peters, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Kenya’s Julius Yego, Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, and Finland’s Oliver Helander.
Germany’s Max Dehning, who has the world-leading mark of 90.20 meters achieved in February, remains a top contender despite not exceeding 82 meters since then.
