New Delhi, 14 August (H.S.):

When Neeraj Chopra won the javelin throw gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of more than 87 metres, he not only created history but also sparked a new revolution around javelin throwing in Indian athletics. Inspired by his success, a new generation of young javelin throwers has emerged across the country.

Now, Jharkhand's national record holder in the Under-17 category, Shilpa Kumari, has emerged as one of India's promising young prospects in women's javelin throw.

Hailing from a remote village in Jharkhand's tribal-dominated Gumla district, Shilpa comes from a farming family. She received her initial training at the Sports Authority of India's (SAI) centre in Ranchi and is currently recognised as the national record holder in the women's Under-17 javelin throw category.

Watching Neeraj's Olympic Gold at Village Gathering

Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo Olympic triumph proved to be a life-changing moment for Shilpa. She watched Neeraj win the gold medal on television with neighbours at a village gathering.

Speaking to SAI Media, Shilpa said, “I watched Neeraj Chopra win the gold medal at the Olympics. That inspired me to take up javelin throw. I want to become like Neeraj sir and win an Olympic medal.”

She added, “When I saw the people in my village celebrating Neeraj Chopra's victory, I decided that winning an Olympic medal in javelin throw would be the goal of my life.”

SAI Centre Opens a New Path

Shilpa's dream began taking shape after she participated in an athletics trial at the SAI centre in Ranchi. Her coach, Binod Singh, spotted her talent during the trial three years ago.

“When I first saw her during a trial at our SAI centre three years ago, I was impressed by her natural talent. She was completely new to the sport at the time, but I selected her after seeing her ability to produce very powerful throws. I could see her potential and felt she was a very promising talent for the future,” Binod Singh said.

He added, “After she began training at the SAI centre in Ranchi, Shilpa made remarkable progress. She improved very quickly and is now one of India's most talented emerging athletes in women's javelin throw.”

The coach also spoke about Shilpa's family's financial circumstances.

“Her parents are farmers and do not have sufficient means to provide all the support required for Shilpa's sporting career. The facilities, training, equipment, nutrition and other support provided by SAI have helped me turn an unpolished talent into a shining diamond,” he said.

55.62m Throw Puts Shilpa in Spotlight

The results of Shilpa's training became evident in 2025 when she set a new national Under-17 record in women's javelin throw with an effort of 55.62 metres at the 69th National School Games.

Her 55.62m throw was also better than India's Under-18 national record of 55.19m, set by Haryana's Deepika in 2023.

However, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) did not recognise Shilpa's 55.62m effort as an official record because the competition was not sanctioned by World Athletics.

Shilpa's official personal best came at the 2025 Junior National Championships, where she finished fifth with a throw of 45.90 metres. The performance represented an improvement of nearly 10 metres over her previous official mark.

“As an athlete, my only focus is on producing my best performance. If the federation has not officially recorded my throw, I will try to surpass it at my next official competition,” Shilpa said.

Coach Confident Shilpa Will Break Records Again

Binod Singh is confident that Shilpa will continue to excel even after moving up to the senior level.

“Shilpa is not worried about whether her best performance has been officially recognised or not. We know what she is capable of. She will reproduce that performance,” he said.

Eyes on a Medal at the Youth Olympics

For now, Shilpa's primary focus is on the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, scheduled to be held from October 31 to November 13, 2026.

“My first goal right now is to finish on the podium at the Youth Olympics. But my ultimate goal is to win an Olympic medal,” Shilpa said.

Linking her dream to her inspiration, the confident young athlete added, “I will dedicate my Olympic medal to Neeraj sir.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar