NB Explains | First Jyothi Yaaraji, now Neeraj Chopra! Are Chinese officials deliberately targeting the Indian athletes at Asian Games?

Last night, India's ace athlete Neeraj Chopra again defended his Asian Games title after throwing a massive throw of 88.88 m in his fifth attempt. While he took the gold, Odisha's Kishore Kumar Jena won silver with a throw of 87.54m. This meant a historic moment for India as it was for the first time that two athletes finished with gold and silver on the podium. However, what came with gold and silver was a huge controversy created by Chinese authorities.

  

 

While the game only allows six throws, World Champion Neeraj Chopra had to throw seven times due to the alleged mismanagement by Chinese authorities who were measuring his first throw at the Asian Games 2023 held in Hangzhou. In addition, not just Chopra but his companion Kishore Kumar Jena also had his second throw invalidated for crossing the line though the decision was later reversed.

 

 

When Neeraj Chopra's first attempt saw his javelin sailing past the 85m mark on Wednesday, the common thought that ran across the stadium here was "that could be near 90m". But what came instead was the next athlete on the list who went ahead with his throw while Neeraj hung around the technical desk.

 

 

So, in a shocking development, Neeraj took off on the runaway once again for 'another' first attempt and came up with an 82.38m throw. He eventually did his season's best of 88.88m on his fourth throw to defend a title for the first time at a multi-disciplinary event.

 

 

Along with Chopra, his companion Kishore Kumar Jena also had his second throw invalidated for crossing the line but the decision was later reversed. They were even seen reluctant to show the white flag when there were no issues found.

 

 

"I normally throw six throws in a competition. Today I had to throw seven (smiled). I have never seen anything like this before. There was something wrong. They did not measure my throw and by the time the next guy threw, they lost my mark. The first throw looked good, I'll look at the video again to see how far it might have gone," said Neeraj.

 

When asked if the officials gave any reason for not measuring his first throw, Chopra said, "One of the officials said the second athlete after me had taken his throw quickly. It was a bizarre situation."

 

"I think they lost my landing mark and they kept on looking for it," the gold medalist further said.

 

"Our team should certainly look into why there are so many issues we are facing, I have never seen these kinds of things in big competitions. I, or some other athlete, could have been mentally down after the first throw," Chopra said on the allegations.

 

"I am told that it was a very good throw, probably 87-88m. Mentally, you feel relieved if your first throw is very good. Later, they told me I would be given another throw for the first attempt," said Chopra.

 

Veteran Anju Bobby George, senior vice president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) supported Neeraj Chopra by further accusing Chinese officials of "deliberately targeting the Indians."

 

"They are trying to cheat us and trying to disturb our athletes. Neeraj's first throw was a very good throw and it was a kind of disturbance. We called Neeraj to protest there itself. Jena's throw was also called foul when he was one foot behind the line," the legendary long jumper alleged.

 

 

Chopra cited several other instances of alleged "cheating", including the red-carding of 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji for a false start before her medal was upgraded from bronze to silver, and not measuring Annu Rani's throw.

 

Jyothi Yarraji, who won silver medal, was also the victim of what smelled of foul play when the track officials in the 100m hurdles final, fouled Jyothi for a false start when she clearly wasn't the first to break out of the starting blocks and it was Chinese athlete who did it.

 

"I felt bad that my first throw in such a big competition went like that. Jyothi ki saath bhi aisa huwa, mere saath garbar huwa hey. Jena ka ek throw mey bhi huwa. So there were issues, but finally, I would say our results were good. Despite whatever has been done, we have shown that we came prepared."