In rare home appearance, Neeraj Chopra favourite to win inaugural NC Classic
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Indian Express
43 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Neeraj Chopra and my story more or less the same, say Julius Yego, only African javelin world champion
Juilus Yego made history when he became the first African world champion in the men's javelin throw in 2015. Hailing from Kenya, a long-distance powerhouse, Yego is an outlier in the sport. Ahead of the NC Classic, Yego, who picked up the sport by watching YouTube videos, talks about the rise of non-European throwers and the camaraderie in the javelin-thrower community. You were the breakout javelin start in Kenya, so is Neeraj in India. Do you see similarities? Julius Yego: It's more or less the same, the story of most javelin throwers other than those from Europe. Europe's infrastructure is very good. So if you see my story, you see the story of Neeraj Chopra, even you see the story of Anderson Peters from Grenada, and even (Arshad) Nadeem himself. We have the talent, but the problem comes of course with the infrastructure, training facilities. Decathlon athletes have a close bond? What about javelin throwers?. At the Lausanne Diamond League last year when Neeraj was finding it tough, you helped him relax Julius Yego: It is a culture we have had in the javelin and I also came to realize that even in the short put and in the pole vault it exists. World record holder (Mondo) Duplantis and the group are really close friends. They always cheer for him when a world record is broken. Even in javelin, when I came up Tero Pitkamaki was my idol. I watched YouTube videos of Pitkamaki and Andreas Thorkildsen. When I competed, I saw that they really supported each other.I remember in my first appearance in the Olympics in 2012, I had the opportunity to speak with Thorkildsen and then he told me your time will come. The only thing you need to do is just be patient. I came to realize that it is the reality of the sport. The main thing is the support you get from your fellow competitors especially in field events. What we love most in field events, especially in javelin, is the long throws. If your fellow competitor is having a 90 meter throw and you are not able to do it at that moment you just cheer up, show your support because your time will come. And when you will be throwing that far, you will need their support. READ MORE | Neeraj Chopra Classic: Neeraj is hands-on, wears many hats as he takes on role of NC Classic host Has javelin gained popularity in Kenya after your feats at the world level? Julius Yego: I think there are new talents coming up especially in the javelin, even among the ladies we have young throwers coming up. At the moment, we have a Kenyan girl who has thrown nearly 60 meters. Hopefully, she will be at the world championships. Even in other countries, we have very good javelin throwers coming up. You saw in Nigeria, we had an athlete going to the Olympics in the men's javelin last year and he (Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi) won the all African Games. He beat me. You can see the level is picking up. Last week also in Ostrava I saw a javelin thrower (Smit Peters) from South Africa doing 84 meters. READ MORE | Neeraj Chopra Classic: What impact does throwing javelin beyond 90m have on the body? Thomas Rohler, Julius Yego break it down In Kenya, which is a running country, has infrastructure improved for javelin? Julius Yego: On the equipment part, yes it has really changed because when we had the World Under-17 championship in Nairobi there was a bit of change. We had the equipment coming to Nairobi and then of course we had the World Under-20 also and then of course the Kip KeIno Classic. So you had to have the equipment. But on the coaching side, I think we need to have a very good level. Coaching in technical events requires a lot of changes. That is something I have said back home that we need to change our mode of coaching. Javelin is a technical event, but then there are some things that you need to change because I cannot throw like Jan Zelezny. I cannot throw like Neeraj Chopra and Chopra cannot throw like me. So you need somebody who understands these basic technical things. You started off by watching YouTube videos. So when you are back home are you involved in coaching? Julius Yego: There is a collaboration with a website, where I encourage young athletes to send their videos there and then I will give them feedback. I am happy to say that last week an athlete from the USA, his name is Jason, was number four in the national championship in his category. He was really buzzing with pride that he improved his throws after the little feedback I gave him. From India, they (budding athletes) just write to me on Instagram. Indians like Instagram. But sometimes it's difficult to reply to all of them because of the nature of the sport, sometimes you are busy. When I get time, I tell them this is what you are supposed to do. But it's difficult when you just say it. When you have the video (of the throws) it's the best thing because you can advise properly and help someone.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Jhansi's boxer Imroz clinches gold at World Police Games
CISF assistant sub-inspector Imroz Khan, a native of Jhansi, has won a gold medal in the 70kg boxing category at the ongoing World Police and Fire Games in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The event is being held from June 27 to July 6. Imroz secured a decisive 5-0 victory over American boxer Janet Johnson in the final bout, claiming the top podium spot for India (Sourced) Imroz secured a decisive 5-0 victory over American boxer Janet Johnson in the final bout, claiming the top podium spot for India. 'I am feeling very happy after winning the gold for my country and intend to play in the Olympics. My parents are also thrilled after hearing the news, as I started playing because of their happiness,' she said. The 28-year-old hails from the Chaniyapura area in Jhansi's old city. Her father works as a TV mechanic and her mother is a homemaker. She initially began her sports journey in hockey before switching to boxing and pursuing training in Jhansi. Imroz was recruited into the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) through the sports quota and is currently posted at Bengaluru airport. She is training with the central boxing team in Haridwar to further refine her skills. Regional sports officer Suresh Bonkar noted that Imroz had regularly trained at the Dhyan Chand Stadium in Jhansi until her selection in the CISF. 'She has represented the city and state in several national-level competitions and has been a disciplined player throughout,' he said.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Paris opens river Seine for public swimming for first time since 1923
Parisians rushed for a dip in the Seine on Saturday as authorities opened the river to public swimming for the first time since 1923 after an extensive clean-up operation spurred on by it being used last year as a venue in the Paris Olympics. Three sites along the banks of the Seine in the city will be able to welcome over 1,000 swimmers daily until August 31, local officials said, to the delight of the Parisians and visitors who were among the first to take the plunge. "Really nice, I'm impressed, surprised," said 24-year-old Victoria Cnop, a Brazilian who lives in Paris. "I never imagined being in the water close to the Eiffel Tower." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tome uma colher de estômago vazio e veja a gordura descer pelo ralo Revista Saúde Saiba Mais Undo "The water is clean, it's warm, it's clear. There is a bit of algae, but that's normal," said 51-year-old Karine. "Come here everybody, it's great!." The reopening of the Seine for public swimming follows efforts by authorities to improve its water quality so it could be used for Olympic events last summer. Live Events Investments included connecting tens of thousands of homes to the sewer system, upgrading water treatment facilities, and constructing large rainwater storage reservoirs to prevent sewer overflow during heavy storms. While delays, triggered by the health impact of heavy rains, impacted some Olympic training sessions and the men's triathlon event, competitions in the Seine eventually went ahead, bolstering confidence in the river's safety for public swimming. Daily water quality tests will be conducted during the swimming season, with green and red flags - similar to beach safety systems - indicating whether swimming areas are open or closed. "It's wonderful," said John Drummond, a 54-year-old visitor from Canada. "It's great for the environment, it's great for the city, it's great for the people that live here. So very good initiative." As well as the three sites within Paris, 14 swimming areas outside the capital's boundaries will be set up on the Seine and the Marne rivers. Two of those already opened on the Marne in June.
