Kishore Kumar Jena - Throwing obstacles out of his way to create history
The athlete from Odisha speared himself to World Athletics Championships 2023.
Kishore Kumar, a name that resonates with passion and excellence. When we mention this name, our hearts are immediately filled with nostalgia for the golden eras of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, where the legendary singer’s melodious voice graced the airwaves.
But today, we shift our focus to another remarkable Kishore Kumar. He is better known with an added surname — Kishore Kumar Jena, an exceptional athlete who etched his name in the annals of history by securing a spot in the men’s Javelin Throw final at the ongoing World Athletics Championships 2023 with a throw of 80.55m.
Along with Kishore, DP Manu and the man with a ‘Golden Arm’ Neeraj Chopra have also confirmed their place in the final round. In this article, we will have a look at the obstacles that Kishore Kumar Jena encountered on his journey before attaining this esteemed position.
Shift from Volleyball to Athletics
Hailing from the serene town of Brahmagiri in Puri District of Odisha, Kishore had an unexpected journey to become a Javelin thrower. Despite initially being inclined towards the sport, Kishore’s focus was on volleyball during his time in the Bhubaneswar Sports Hostel.
In 2015, it was under the guidance and recommendation of his coach at the sports hostel that Kishore was encouraged to change his discipline to Javelin throw. This particular decision served as a pivotal moment in his career, propelling him towards an unwavering path of success. Through resolute commitment and unyielding determination, Kishore steadily forged a remarkable trajectory, ultimately attaining the remarkable stature he currently enjoys.
He explicitly mentioned in an interview that he possessed a negligible understanding of the sport. However, over time, he diligently began to acquire fundamental knowledge and dedicated himself to enhancing his skills.
The sport of Javelin Throw was regarded as a relatively lesser-known discipline until Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable achievement of securing a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. This not only facilitated the widespread popularity of the sport but also instilled a sense of possibility among budding athletes, enlightening them to consider alternative sports that have previously remained in obscurity.
Steady Progress
Kishore Kumar Jena’s remarkable journey began with an electrifying performance in the state Championships. With an unwavering dedication and an unyielding spirit, he shattered his personal best, unleashing a throw of 76.41m at the fiercely competitive Odisha State Championships.
Fuelled by an insatiable hunger for success, his journey to dominance reached its pinnacle at the National Open Javelin Championships in the vibrant city of New Delhi. In a display of sheer athleticism and unyielding determination, he soared above all competitors and claimed the title at the event.
The road to World Athletic Championships was not easy for Kishore Kumar Jena. With the hurdles he had to go through a lot of drama to even attain a Visa for the event.
Qualifying for World Athletics Championships 2023
In the initial part of June 2023, Kishore held the 31st position in the World Javelin ranking. However, by the beginning of July 2023, his ranking had dropped to the 41st position. And according to rules, only the top 36 athletes in the event will be allowed to compete for a title at the World Athletics Championships.
The Lebanon National Championships in Beirut and Sri Lanka National Athletics were the last hope for Kishore. In Lebanon, he achieved a noteworthy throw of 78.96m, while in Sri Lanka, he reached new heights with a personal best of 84.38m. By means of this exceptional throw, he not only attained the title in Sri Lanka but also solidified his position at the World Athletic Championships.
Although Kishore was initially ranked 36th at the end of July, the regulations stipulate that only three athletes from each country are eligible to compete in the World Athletic Championship. Consequently, with Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, and DP Manu already securing their positions ahead of Kishore, it seemed that his opportunity to participate in the championship would be missed.
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However, when Neeraj received a wild card entry to the championship, this fortuitously opened the door for Kishore, who with the other two athletes was named to represent the nation at the prestigious event. And finally in a rare instance, four athletes were selected to compete in a single event from a nation. But unfortunately, in the end, Rohit Yadav had to undergo an elbow surgery which ruled him out of the competition.
However, the challenges did not cease there. Kishore’s Visa application was subsequently revoked by the Hungarian Embassy, resulting in an unsettling uncertainty regarding his participation. Fortunately, Neeraj Chopra was one among the many who took the initiative to appeal to the Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, in order to address and resolve the athlete’s visa predicament. After which it was solved.
“Just heard that there are issues with Kishore Jena’s VISA, preventing him from entering Hungary for the World C’ships. I hope the authorities are able to find a solution, as this is one of the biggest moments of his career. Let’s do everything we can. @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar,” Neeraj had tweeted.
Eyeing around 85m in the final round, Kishore will surely look to better his personal best and secure a title for himself. If not here, he will obviously look forward to achieving greater accomplishments for his country in the forthcoming years.
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