A new star has emerged on India’s athletics horizon. Asian Under-18 javelin champion Himanshu Jakhar broke Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra’s 11-year-old meet record in spectacular fashion at the 40th National Junior Athletics Championships at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Friday, throwing an astounding 79.96 metres in the men’s under-18 qualifying round.
The 17-year-old’s performance not only shattered Neeraj’s long-standing meet record of 76.50m, set in Vijayawada in 2014, but also comfortably surpassed the World Under-20 Championships qualification standard of 68.50m, earning Jakhar a berth at the 2026 World U20 Championships.
A Record-Breaking Throw That Announced a New Era
Jakhar’s throw was not just a personal milestone it signaled the arrival of a new generation in Indian javelin. His mark of 79.96m represents a quantum leap from his previous best of 67.57m, the throw that won him gold at the Asian U18 Athletics Championships in Al Hofuf, Saudi Arabia earlier this year.
That improvement of more than 12 metres in just six months demonstrates both technical evolution and growing physical maturity. Jakhar, who trains at the SAI Sports Training Centre in Haryana, has quietly built a reputation within the junior circuit for his explosive power and consistency. But Friday’s performance elevated him into national prominence perhaps even as India’s next big prospect in the event that Neeraj Chopra made world-famous.
Speaking to IANS after his record-breaking throw, a visibly composed Jakhar said,
“I’m from Haryana and train at SAI STC. Last year, my best was 74.56m, also at this venue. I’ve worked on improving my strength and technique since then. The conditions were good today, and I just focused on executing my throw. I’m happy but not satisfied there’s still more distance to achieve.”
Breaking a Legacy: From Neeraj to the Next Generation
It is no small feat to break a record once held by Neeraj Chopra, whose meteoric rise from junior prodigy to Olympic champion has inspired an entire generation of Indian throwers. Neeraj’s 76.50m mark at the 2014 National Juniors had stood untouched for more than a decade, serving as a benchmark for young athletes across the country. For Jakhar to eclipse it by over three metres in a qualifying round not even the final underscores his extraordinary potential. His 79.96m would have been competitive even at the senior national level, highlighting the depth and quality emerging from India’s junior javelin ecosystem.
Indian athletics has seen a steady surge in the discipline in recent years, with athletes like Kishore Jena, Manu DP, and Rohit Yadav pushing global standards. Jakhar’s breakthrough adds another name to that growing list one that could carry the legacy forward into the next decade.
While Jakhar’s record-breaking feat rightly stole the spotlight, the day also saw several other standout performances at the National Junior Athletics Championships. In the men’s under-20 5000m, Mohit Choudhary clocked 14:09.71 to clinch gold, setting a new meet record in the process. His performance reflected both endurance and tactical maturity, as he paced the race smartly before unleashing a decisive final kick in the last 600 metres to secure victory.
Meanwhile, Alice Vikal made history in the under-16 girls’ shot put, registering 13.26m in the qualification round a mark that erased Alka Singh’s national record of 13.10m. The youngster’s composure and technique under pressure marked her as one to watch in the coming years. These performances collectively reinforced India’s growing strength in youth athletics, with talent emerging across disciplines from endurance events to technical fields.
Jakhar’s Journey: Building Towards the World Stage
Jakhar’s trajectory has been steady, built on a foundation of discipline and incremental improvement. In April 2025, he made national headlines by winning India’s first gold medal at the U18 Asian Athletics Championships in Saudi Arabia with a throw of 67.57m, underlining his dominance at the continental level. Since then, his focus has shifted toward refining biomechanics, optimizing his run-up, and improving strength in the final release phase areas that have clearly paid dividends in Bhubaneswar.
At just 17, Jakhar’s throw of 79.96m places him among the top junior javelin marks globally this year. If he maintains his development curve, he could soon challenge the 80m threshold a benchmark that separates emerging talents from world-class throwers. His qualification for the 2026 World U20 Championships now opens a new chapter. Competing on the global stage will not only test his mettle against the best young throwers from Europe and Africa but also prepare him for the eventual transition into the senior circuit.
Jakhar’s emergence reflects the effectiveness of India’s grassroots and academy-level systems. The Sports Authority of India (SAI) centres in states like Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh have become nurseries for young throwers, offering structured coaching, access to biomechanics labs, and exposure to sports science methodologies. The presence of role models like Neeraj Chopra has also created a cultural shift young athletes now view javelin as a viable path to international success. Jakhar’s performance adds fresh inspiration for those aspiring to follow in Neeraj’s footsteps.
As the National Junior Championships continue in Bhubaneswar, Jakhar’s record-breaking feat stands as the defining highlight a moment that may well be looked back on as the beginning of something special. While it is too early to draw direct parallels with Neeraj Chopra, the similarities are hard to ignore: both hail from Haryana, both broke records as teenagers, and both showed signs of elite potential long before reaching their athletic peak.
For now, Jakhar remains grounded and focused. “I know this is just one step,” he said after his throw. “I’ll keep working to improve and represent India well at the World Championships.”
If his current trajectory is any indication, Indian athletics may have just witnessed the rise of its next great javelin thrower one ready to carry forward the legacy of excellence established by Neeraj Chopra, and perhaps, in time, to write his own.
