The spotlight in Indian athletics is steadily shifting towards a new name Shivam Lohakare.
At just 20, the young javelin thrower announced himself in stunning fashion at the 74th Inter Services Athletics Championship 2025, producing a monstrous throw of 84.31m to shatter the meet record previously held by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra. The throw earned Shivam the gold medal and also drew praise from none other than Neeraj himself. Taking to Instagram, the reigning world champion congratulated him: “Congratulations Shivam, very good. Keep going.” For a youngster striving to make his mark, those words carried the weight of a personal milestone as significant as the throw itself.
Breaking Neeraj’s Record
The Inter Services Athletics Championship has long been a proving ground for India’s best athletes from the armed forces, and Neeraj Chopra’s meet record of 83.80m set in 2018 was regarded as a benchmark of excellence. Shivam not only surpassed it but did so with composure and conviction, his 84.31m effort standing as the farthest of his career. However, because the competition is not recognized by World Athletics, the mark will not be officially registered as his personal best. Shivam took the news in stride: “Today I was feeling that I would throw 82m+. It’s okay (that it’s not recognized). I’ll perform even better at the Open Nationals,” he told NNIS Sports after his victory.
Regardless of official recognition, the performance is already being seen as a defining moment in the emergence of a new javelin star.
What makes Shivam’s rise remarkable is his consistency. The 84.31m throw was not a one-off but the fourth consecutive time he crossed the 80m barrier. His progression this season tells the story of a young athlete growing in confidence:
- Joined the 80m club at the Indian Open Athletics Meet in Pune with 80.95m.
- Backed it up at the World Continental Tour Bronze Meet in Bhubaneswar, winning silver with 80.73m.
- Now, in Bengaluru, smashed past 84m in the Inter Services meet.
At just 20, Shivam has displayed the consistency and temperament needed to graduate into the elite bracket of throwers who regularly breach the 80m mark.
Only a few months ago, Shivam was seen as a promising prospect with raw potential. But 2025 has become a breakthrough year. In Bhubaneswar, he not only won silver with an 80.73m throw but also outperformed seasoned competitors like Asian Championships medalist Sachin Yadav and Sri Lanka’s national record holder Sumedha Ranasinghe. Those results, coupled with his Pune performance, signaled that Shivam was not just a one-day wonder. By the time he took the field in Bengaluru, he was already carrying the aura of a contender. The 84.31m throw simply confirmed what many insiders had begun to suspect that India may have found its next big javelin name.
In a country where Neeraj Chopra has become the face of athletics, breaking one of his records is no small matter. The significance lies not only in the numbers but in the message it sends India’s javelin pipeline is alive and thriving. For Shivam, Neeraj’s encouragement is as important as the distance he achieved. The champion’s congratulatory message underlines the culture of mentorship and support that is now growing within Indian athletics, where established stars inspire the next generation to aim higher.
Shivam’s next target is the Open Nationals, where his 84.31m throw can finally be officially registered if replicated. With the confidence of four back-to-back 80m-plus throws, he enters the event as one of the top contenders. A strong performance there will not only bolster his standing nationally but also put him on the radar for international assignments leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
India’s javelin revolution, once synonymous with Neeraj Chopra alone, now appears to be broadening. Athletes like Kishore Jena and DP Manu have already emerged as international medalists. With Shivam Lohakare stepping in with 80m-plus throws at just 20, the country could soon have a formidable group of throwers capable of competing on the world stage. The importance of this depth cannot be overstated. For decades, India struggled to produce even one javelin thrower capable of challenging globally.
Now, the competition within the country itself is fierce, pushing athletes like Shivam to reach levels that once seemed distant dreams.
Rising Star of Indian Javelin
At 20, Shivam Lohakare embodies the qualities that define a rising star youth, hunger, consistency, and a willingness to learn. His 84.31m in Bengaluru may not enter the official record books, but it has already entered the imagination of Indian athletics followers. With every competition, he is proving that the next chapter of India’s javelin story will not be written by one name alone. Shivam is here to stay, and his journey from promising youngster to international contender has well and truly begun.
