Javelin Throw: 20-Year-Old Shivam Lohakare Eyes 82m Target After Breaking Into 80m Club

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Bhubaneswar's Kalinga Stadium roared with anticipation on Sunday (August 10), and in the middle of it all stood Shivam Lokhare, a 20-year-old athlete from Maharashtra, with a javelin in hand, nerves tingling. For Shivam, the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Meet wasn't just another competition it was a test of grit, resilience, and self-belief.

Just days earlier, he had joined India's elite "80m club" at the Indian Open Athletics Meet in Pune with a personal best of 80.95m, smashing his previous best of 76.92m.

In Bhubaneswar, he followed it up with yet another 80m-plus performance 80.73m clinching silver behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage, who struck gold with a stunning 86.50m.

Along the way, Shivam out-threw Asian Championships medalist Sachin Yadav and Sri Lanka's national record holder Sumedha Ranasinghe. Yet, the silver medal was only part of the story.

"When I competed in Pune, I felt a bit of a jerk in my ankle. There was pain, and I couldn't work out much," Shivam told myKhel. "After Pune, I had just one throw session before Bhubaneswar. My target was 82m, but I couldn't achieve it. Still, it was my first time in front of such a big crowd I was nervous, but it felt good at the same time."

His campaign in Bhubaneswar came with its share of challenges. "I was feeling discomfort in my ankle during my 4th and 5th throws. I felt a jolt again, so I skipped my last attempt. There's still swelling, but I'll recover soon. Since I've been competing continuously, I haven't had proper rest."

Shivam's 2025 season has been a rollercoaster, 5th at the National Games, top honours at the Indian Open with 71.52m, another 5th at the Federation Cup, and now back-to-back 80m throws on the big stage. But the mission is clear.

"I didn't think about winning a medal in Bhubaneswar. My only aim was to give my best. Now, my first priority is to recover from my injury. Only when I'm fully fit will I be able to perform well. My target for this year is to hit the 82m mark."

If his recent performances are any indication, that mark might just be a stepping stone for one of India's most promising javelin throwers.