Neeraj Chopra fan Himanshu Jakhar eyes Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar

Himanshu Jakhar won the men’s javelin gold in Saudi Arabia with a promising throw of 67.57 metres.

Himanshu Jakhar, who created history after becoming the first Indian to clinch gold in men’s javelin throw at the U-18 Asian Athletics Championships in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, will be a major attraction at the upcoming Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar, scheduled from May 4 to 15.

Himanshu, who hails from Salahawas village in Jhajjar district of Haryana, clinched the yellow metal with a massive throw of 67.57 metres, much ahead of China’s Lu Hao (63.45m) and Uzbekistan’s Ruslan Sadullaev (61.96m). His father, Dalbir and mother, Reena, are farmers.

The 17-year-old Himanshu Jakhar picked up a javelin just five years back, training in his home village initially before shifting to the SAI Centre in Hissar. Talking to SAI Media from Saudi Arabia, Himanshu said that his next target is the Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar, scheduled from May 4 to 15.

“Winning a gold medal for the country has been an amazing experience. But it was a lot of hard work, along with my coaches, to reach this far. I have been training at the SAI Centre in Hisar under coach Arvind for the last 2-3 years, and with better coaching, equipment, ground and gym, etc.

I have been able to make the country proud. My next target is to attract talent for Khelo India Youth Games and then Junior Nationals,” Himanshu said.

“Khelo India is a great initiative by the Indian government, and people in my age group need such a platform to gradually contribute to the nation,” he added.

Himanshu, whose previous personal best in 700 g javelin throw was 74.56m, achieved at the National Junior Athletics Championships in December 2024, sees Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra as his inspiration.

“He (Neeraj Chopra) is an inspiration to not just me but the entire country. What he has achieved for India does not happen every day. What I like about him is his work ethic, dedication and humility despite earning so much fame. I always try to learn how he conducts himself during competitions, how he greets his competitors, how he keeps himself so cool during pressure situations,” Himanshu Jakhar said.

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