By K. P. Mohan
The moment that Indian athletics had been waiting for since the country’s independence in 1947 arrived today in the Olympic Games. It was gold for Neeraj Chopra in javelin throw, the first medal for India in athletics.
The 23-year-old Indian was not weighed down by the expectations of 1.35 billion people back home. He looked to be prepared for this moment. And once German Johannes Vetter fumbled as he did in the qualification round it became clear it was going to be India’s day at the Olympic Stadium.
Chopra clinched the gold with a throw of 87.58 metres that came on his second throw. Even with an opening attempt of 87.03m he had looked likely to take the first place when Vetter managed only 82.52m on his first.
The field did not have too many throwers capable on current form to overhaul Chopra though going by their past record it did have a few very familiar with the range the Indian had reached with his very first throw. One such man, Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic reached 86.67m on his fifth throw replacing countryman Vitezslav Vesely from his silver medal position. Vesely, all of 38 years, was probably into his last Olympics and the veteran, one of world record holder Jan Zelezny’s trainees, threw a season best 85.44m on his third attempt.
These were distances that could not upset the single-minded approach of Chopra. The Indian was pumped from his first throw and once he crossed the 87-metre mark with his second he seemed to know he had all but clinched it as he raised his arms to indicate he had nailed a good distance.
Vetter could not go beyond his opening throw of 82.52m and eventually could not make the top-eight cut to be eligible for the last three rounds. Into his second throw he slipped and fouled and seemed to have injured his toe. On his third attempt, he knew that it was not going much he deliberately crossed the line and fouled.
“It feels unbelievable. It is the first time India has won a gold in athletics, so I feel very good,” said Chopra. “We have just one gold in other sports,” he added, referring to the gold in shooting that Abhinav Bindra had bagged in the Beijing Olympics.
“It is a proud moment for me and my country,” Chopra said.
“I feel a bit bad about Vetter, he’s a great thrower,” said Chopra. “But I also had to focus on my throws. I can’t explain it, it’s an awesome feeling.”
Surface slippery for javelin, says Vetter
Vetter, who finished ninth, said that he could not brake on a surface that was good for speed but not suitable for him.
“If you watch the throws again, you can see it is not the right surface for me. It’s a good surface for all the runners, for all the nice world records and Olympic records on the track, but not for javelin throwers like me. It really makes me sad,” said Vetter.
The German had come into this competition as the overwhelming favourite, having had a series of seven 90-metre-plus marks in competitions this season. He looked unbeatable till the qualification stage arrived on August 4. He barely managed to qualify with a third-round throw of 85.64m. The first doubts about his form and capability on this surface and weather conditions surfaced then.
“It’s like driving a car autopilot. You can’t brake and I have to brake to throw far.
“I was trying everything. I was trying in every throw and every warm-up throw to find the right technique for this surface.
“I was trying to change some technical things to get the right block on this surface, but it was impossible today.”
On Chopra, Vetter said “He is really talented guy, always really friendly. I am happy for him. He has another blocking technique as he showed in qualification.”
The Czechs were happy they had the silver and bronze.
“It is incredible because Vitezslav won the bronze and it is amazing. I am very glad. It was an open competition,” said Vadlejch.
“It is my longest throw in six years,” said Vesely. “I did good preparation. Due to some weather conditions and some injuries the results were not so good. I am glad I found it in the final,” said the Czech veteran.
Pakistani Arshad Nadeem who had looked good in qualification ended up in fifth place with 84.62m.
From an Asian viewpoint, apart from Chopra’s gold medal that sent India into celebrations, there was one more medal for Asia on the concluding day the athletics programme at the Olympic Stadium. The men’s marathon will come up tomorrow at Sapporo.
That medal came through Bahrain’s Kalkidan Gezahgne in the women’s 10,000 metres won by Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan who completed her distance double though she failed to get the 1500m gold along with that. This was the third medal for Hassan in these Games, the bronze in 1500m having come only the previous day.
Gezahgne, the 2018 Asian Games champion in 1500m and 5000m, bided her time as Ethiopian world record holder Letesenbet Gidey did all the front running. That is what Hasan also did, just tag along with the Ethiopian who had bettered the former’s world record in Hengelo in June with a time of 29:01.03. Hassan had clocked 29:06.82 in the same Dutch city just two days earlier.,
It was not until with about 150 metres to go that Hassan started breaking away from the front trio. She did that effortlessly and Gezahgne followed to leave the tiring Gidey well back for the bronze. Hassan clocked 29:55.32, Gezahgne had 29:56.18 and Gidey 30:01.72.
“I thank God for everything” said Gezahgne. “It was challenging. I was training at altitude but it was not like in this humidity.”
“I am so happy and I cried during the medal ceremony,” said Hassan. “I actually realised that I am done, the Games are over.
“It’s not about how strong I am but how strong are the ladies I challenge. Now I am happy, I am done, it’s over.”
Hellen Obiri of Kenya, two-time world champion in 5000m, timed a personal best 30:24.27 for fourth while Ririka Hironaka of Japan was seventh in a personal best 31:00.71. Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba of Burundi, timed a national record of 30:41.93 for fifth place.
Kenya made it a one-two in women’s marathon held at Sapporo. Perese Jepchirchir beat world record holder Brigid Kosgei for the gold at 2:27:20 to 2:27:36. Molly Seidel of the US had the bronze in 2:27:46.
USA takes both longer relay golds
The USA took both the 4x400m relay gold medals with plenty to spare. The foursome of Sydney McLaughlin, the 400m hurdles gold winner in the Games, Allyson Felix, Dalilah Muhammad, the silver winner in the 400m hurdles, and Athing Mu the 800m gold medallist, took the women’s gold in a season best 3:16.85.
This was the 11th Olympic medal for Felix, who also made it her seventh gold from five Olympic Games editions.
Poland clocked a national record of 3:20.53 while taking the silver in the women’s longer relay while Jamaica was third in 3:21.24.
The men’s team of Michael Cherry, Michael Norman, Bryce Deadmon and Rai Benjamin, the 400m hurdles silver winner, claimed the men’s relay gold in 2:55.70. The Netherlands provided a surprise by coming second in a national record of 2:57.18 while Botswana took the bronze in 2:57.27, an Area record. Belgium (2:57.88) at fourth had a national record and so too Italy which finished seventh in 2:51.81.
