Bhubaneswar: Odia lad Kishore Jena created history on Friday by becoming the first athlete from Odisha to reach the finals of the World Athletic Championship being organized at Budapest. He will be competing with the world’s best Javelin throwers in the finals of the Championship late tonight Indian time. This is for the first time that an Odia athlete has reached to that stage. Along with Kishore, two other Indian Javelin throwers are also in the finals – Neeraj Chopra and DP Manu. Neeraj Chopra is the hot favorite to win the Gold Medal in the championship.
Kishore, who hails from a village near Brahmagiri in Odisha’s Puri district, has a personal best of 84.38 meters which he recorded in Sri Lanka earlier this year. At Budapest, he qualified to the finals with an 80.55 meters throw. In June, he had won the silver medal at the nationals in Bhubaneswar.
Meanwhile, Kishore Jena’s Coach Samarjeet Singh Malhi says that Kishore will be at least able to get a place in the top eight ranks and improve his personal best at Budapest. Coming from a farmer’s family, Kishore had a very difficult past. His success can be attributed to his determination and the support given by the government to him.
Kishore Jena, Odisha’s Javelin champ, is participating in his first World Athletics Championship Final at Budapest, today at 1145 IST. It’s a big achievement for the Puri Boy Kishore to reach world stage inspite of all challenges. Let’s pray and cheer for kishore. All the best!? pic.twitter.com/m0yFjw6kVL
— Vineel Krishna (@rvineel_krishna) August 27, 2023