In a country where javelin throw has captured the public imagination since Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic triumph, a new name is beginning to echo in stadiums and training grounds Shivam Lohakare.
At just 20 years old, Lohakare has burst onto the national scene with back-to-back throws over 80 metres, including a personal best of 80.95m. These performances not only place him among India’s elite but also suggest a future where he could challenge the very best in the world.
Breaking the 80-Metre Barrier
The 80m mark in men’s javelin is more than a statistic it is the threshold separating national-level athletes from genuine international contenders. Shivam’s breakthrough came in July 2025 at the Indian Open Athletics Meet in Pune, where his throw of 80.95m earned him gold and propelled him into the exclusive “80m club.” Less than a month later, at the World Continental Tour Bronze Meet in Bhubaneswar, he proved it was no fluke, recording 80.73m for a silver medal in a competitive international field.
For context, Shivam is the 16th Indian to cross this milestone and one of the youngest ever to do so. In a sport where physical and technical maturity often peak in the late 20s, hitting these distances at 20 shows that his ceiling is still far above his current level.
From Village Fields to Elite Training Grounds
Shivam’s journey began in Sonai village, Maharashtra, where his family’s livelihood came from farming. His first taste of javelin came in 2016 during a local district meet, but serious coaching was far from reach. With limited resources, he improvised even cycling 70 kilometers once to buy an aluminum javelin. When COVID-19 lockdowns halted formal training, he continued to practice on an open road near his village, a testament to his persistence.
The turning point came when he moved to Pune after his 10th-grade exams. Since 2021, he has trained at the Army Sports Institute (ASI), one of India’s premier athlete development hubs, and serves as a Havaldar in the Indian Army. Initially coached by Kashi Nath, a Commonwealth Games medallist, and now under Kulwinder Singh, a former national champion in decathlon and hammer throw, Shivam has benefited from systematic, professional guidance that has sharpened both his technique and competitive mindset.
Even before his 80m throws, Shivam’s potential was evident. In 2023, he won silver at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships with 72.34m and at the Junior Nationals. That year, he also set a personal best of 76.92m, only for a back injury to slow his progress. The experience, however, brought a new appreciation for recovery, injury prevention, and mental resilience qualities essential for any athlete aiming for a long career in a physically demanding discipline.
A Unique Edge: Left-Handed Throwing
One notable trait that sets Shivam apart is his left-handed throwing style a rarity in world javelin. While the advantage may be subtle, it can present unfamiliar angles and trajectories for competitors and coaches used to analyzing right-handed throwers. In elite sport, such small differences can have psychological and tactical benefits.
Shivam’s rise is part of a wider renaissance in Indian javelin. Before Neeraj Chopra’s 2015 breakthrough, only four Indians had ever thrown beyond 80m. Since Chopra’s Olympic gold in 2021, eleven more have joined the list, signaling unprecedented depth in the discipline.
Shivam now competes in a fiercely competitive domestic field alongside the likes of:
- Sachin Yadav — PB 85.16m, ranked 20th globally.
- Rohit Yadav — PB 83.40m.
- D.P. Manu — PB 84.35m.
- Kishore Jena — PB 87.54m, second-best ever by an Indian.
- Yashvir Singh — PB 82.57m.
This healthy internal competition pushes each athlete to raise their level, creating a self-sustaining cycle of improvement.
The System Behind the Success
Shivam’s story also reflects the impact of India’s sports development programs. Initiatives like Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) have extended high-quality training access beyond major cities, unearthing talent from rural areas. The Army Sports Institute has been instrumental in Shivam’s growth, providing world-class coaching, strength conditioning, and competitive exposure.
Shivam’s goals are bold but clear:
- Consistently throw beyond 85m in the short term.
- Reach the 90m mark between 2025 and 2028.
The immediate challenge lies in bridging the gap to Olympic qualification standards. For Paris 2024, that mark was 85.50m a distance still ahead of him, but one he aims to close quickly through technical refinement and competitive consistency.
Key focus areas for his progression include:
- Consistency — sustaining 80m+ throws across an entire season.
- Technique — optimising release angle and approach speed.
- Injury Prevention — building strength while safeguarding against setbacks like his 2023 back injury.
- International Exposure — competing regularly in World Athletics Continental Tour events to gain ranking points and high-pressure experience.
Shivam doesn’t hide his admiration for Neeraj Chopra, referring to him as “Neeraj Bhaiya.” One of his most motivating moments came when Chopra followed him on Instagram a small gesture that fueled his belief that he, too, could compete among the world’s best.
A New Face of Indian Javelin
At 20, Shivam Lohakare stands at the start of what could be a long and impactful career. His emergence alongside a strong cohort of 80m+ Indian throwers ensures that the nation’s javelin hopes are no longer pinned on a single superstar. Instead, India is developing a formidable group capable of challenging at the highest level year after year.
With the right mix of training, patience, and competitive exposure, Shivam’s dream of 90 metres may well become reality. More importantly, his journey from a farming village to the elite throws sector is already inspiring the next wave of Indian athletes. If the past two seasons are any indication, the left-handed javelin thrower from Maharashtra could soon be a name to watch on the world stage.
Inspired by Articles in IndianExpress & The Bridge
