–By Sundeep Misra

Kishore Jena’s frustration is palpable. It’s raw, unfolding in the open air of Patiala. Each of his six throws was wrapped in the hope of recreating the magic of 2023 – that remarkable Budapest World Championship final ((84.77m) and the Hangzhou Asian Games silver (87.54m), where he pushed Neeraj Chopra to the brink. At the Indian Open Throws Competition (March 7-8), Jena headlined Group B toward the tail end of the two-day meet, searching for that lost rhythm.

Jena’s run-up remained smooth, save for a subtle hesitation where he held back his throwing arm – an unusual technical add-on absent in his 2023-24 peak. An opening throw of 74.61m hinted at a bigger push to come, but the narrative slipped out of his hands when Army man Shivam Lohakare unleashed an 81.08m on his first attempt. It was the first 80m throw by an Indian in 2026, making Lohakare only the fourth javelin thrower globally to cross that mark this year, while simultaneously breaching the Asian Games qualification standard.

Despite a handful of supporters urging him on with cries of “Jena Bhai, ek aur 85 maar do,” Jena’s fifth throw of 74.75m was the ceiling of his performance. Returning from a nine-month injury layoff is never seamless; Jena looked tentative, constantly conferring with his coach, Steve Lemke. The big throw simply didn’t materialize. Afterward, Lemke was overheard consoling his ward, insisting the below-par session wasn’t entirely his fault.

Zipped up in a thin Manchester City hoodie, Jena reflected: “It is frustrating at times. It’s always difficult to come back after an injury. But I will make it. It’s only a matter of time.”

Indian track and field exists in its own unique orbit. Deep inside the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, on a weather-beaten, dusty track with the early summer sun beating down, athletes and fans draped themselves over the fences to watch the javelin, discus, and hammer events. It was a missed opportunity for the organizers; the small, energetic crowd stood for nearly two days (9 am to 6 pm) without seating. To leave such a committed base standing is to take them for granted.

Track and field thrives on this connection. As U20 shot put champion Omkar Nanda (Odisha) noted: “There is a different environment in Patiala missing in other centres. While I was throwing, they kept pushing me, egging me on. They understand the sport.”

For Jena, the challenges are manifold. Within the brokenness of the time elapsed since the Asian Games, can he still produce meaning and rediscover the 85m-plus territory? Perhaps it is time to stop exalting the achievements of the past to make room for a meaningful present and future.

National Anti-Doping Agency stepped up its vigilance at the Open Throws meet, with officials present in strong numbers to closely monitor the competition.

NADA officials were seen observing multiple events throughout the day and also carried out several random selections for doping tests during the meet.

In one notable instance during the hammer throw event, an athlete was selected for testing mid-competition just after completing his three throws and while packing his bag following elimination.

The randomly selected athlete appeared surprised by the call and was seen confirming the selection with NADA officials before proceeding with the testing process.

The move highlights the agency’s continued efforts to maintain strict anti-doping oversight at domestic athletics competitions.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor clinched the gold medal with a throw of 20.51 metres, marking only his second 20m-plus outdoor throw in the last two and a half years.

The performance signals a positive step in Toor’s return to form after a challenging period. Earlier this season, he had also secured silver at the Asian Indoor Championships with a throw of 20.05 metres.

Meanwhile, Samardeep Gill, who impressed with strong performances last year, endured a difficult outing and finished 11th with 16.88 metres, continuing a tough start to his 2026 season.

A breakthrough day for Damneet at the Indian Open Throws meet.

Before this competition, Damneet had never crossed the 70-metre mark in the senior circuit. But in a remarkable display of consistency, he achieved the milestone three times in a single competition.

His best throws of the day included:

70.64m – 2nd throw
70.21m – 3rd throw
70.04m – 5th throw

The performance also saw him breach the Asian Games qualification standard of 69.12 metres, capping off a memorable outing on the field.

A significant step forward for the Indian thrower as he builds momentum for the upcoming international season.

Rajasthan’s Nikita Kumari won gold in the women’s U20 discus throw, registering a lifetime best of 51.78m.

U18 national champion Amanat finished second, taking silver with a throw of 51.13m.

Supriya Attri, representing NCOE Patiala, won bronze with a huge personal best of 50.09m. It was the first time in her career that she breached the 50m mark, improving her previous best by nearly 2 metres.

Both Nikita and Amanat trained together during the off-season at the Anju Bobby George Academy in an OGQ-organised training camp under coach Paul Wilson.

The former Asian record holder and two-time Asian Games champion clinched gold in the men’s shot put, before sharing a heartwarming moment as he posed with his daughter after the victory.

Toor delivered a strong series, with all three of his valid attempts crossing the 20-metre mark — an encouraging sign as he builds momentum for the upcoming season.

Making the moment even more memorable, his family was present in the stands to witness the performance, including his newly born daughter — and the champion certainly did not disappoint.

The young thrower clinched the gold medal in the men’s U-18 javelin throw at the Indian Open Throws meet in Patiala with a personal best of 70.62 metres.

In a competitive field, only two athletes managed to breach the 70-metre mark. Vishal led the competition with his 70.62m effort, while Rajat Kumar followed closely with a 70.52m throw.

A strong performance from the young javelin thrower, highlighting the growing depth in India’s junior throwing events.

Nishchay delivered an outstanding performance at the Indian Open Throws in Patiala, dominating the U-18 throwing events.

On the second day of competition, Nishchay clinched gold in the men’s U-18 discus throw with a massive personal best of 63.90 metres.

The throw came agonizingly close to the long-standing national record of 64.09 metres, set by Arjun in 2010 — missing it by just 0.19 metres, less than 20 centimetres.

A day earlier, the young thrower had already secured gold in the men’s U-18 shot put with another personal best of 19.78 metres.

Two events, two victories, and two personal bests — an exceptional outing that signals the arrival of one of India’s most promising young throwers.

Sachin Yadav — Asian Championships medallist and World Championships finalist — was spotted watching the men’s javelin throw competition in Patiala.

Also present alongside him was India’s javelin coach Sergey Makarov.

Their presence comes just minutes before Shivam Lohakare is set to take the runway.

Notably, Lohakare has been training under Makarov for the past two months at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium — a preparation phase that now leads into his competition in Patiala.