London: Unheralded javelin thrower Davinder Singh Kang pipped a more-fancied Neeraj Chopra to become the first Indian to qualify for a final in this edition of the World Athletics Championships here Thursday.
Kang’s participation in the event had been in doubt after he tested positive for marijuana in June but he was named in the 25-member Indian team as the banned substance was in the specified list of the WADA Code and does not attract automatic suspension.
“After I came to know that Neeraj did not qualify, I wanted to qualify for the final round. I wanted to do something for the country and by the grace of God, I’ve managed to reach the final,” Kang said after his qualification.
While it was Chopra, a junior World Champion, who was touted as India’s biggest hope, it ended up being Kang who came out from nowhere to attain the qualifying mark of 83m with his third and final throw that cleared a distance of 84.22m. Chopra’s best effort on the other hand was 82.26m. Kang’s effort put him in the seventh position among the final round qualifiers.
Kang had heavy strapping on his right shoulder due to an injury he carried into the Championship but is confident of putting up a good show in the finals, Saturday.
“I have been carrying a right shoulder injury which I sustained in May during the Indian Grand Prix but it is not that a big problem. Our team masseur put these straps today (Thursday) and I am okay. But I had to ask my friend Sri Lankan competitor (Waruna Rankoth Pedige) to help me with some stretching before my third and final throw,” Kang informed.
“It (injury) will be all right after a day’s rest. I want to give my best in the final round and win a medal for the country,” he asserted.
But that looks like a distant dream with the likes of Germany’s Johannes Vetter (91.20m) and the Czech Republic’s Petr Frydrych (86.22m) dominating the show.
Press Trust of India