Javelin Thrower Kishore Jena to focus on rehab after minor left ankle surgery; Will start 2025 season late

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Earlier this month, Asian Games silver medallist in men's javelin throw, Kishore Kumar Jena, underwent minor surgery to address a painful left ankle caused by a bone spur that had restricted his movement in the past.

The 29-year-old javelin thrower from Odisha went under the surgeon's knife in the first week of October in Mumbai. As a result, Kishore Jena will start his 2025 season later than expected due to the rehabilitation process.

"Pain in my left ankle started nearly three months before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The pain worsened sometimes, but I didn't go for surgery then. Instead, I relied on rehab and went on to compete at the Olympic Games held between 26 July and 11 August in France," said the 29-year-old Asian Games silver medallist. "To stay healthy for the 2025 season, it was important for me to get my ankle operated on."

After a strong performance in 2023, expectations were high for the 2024 season, which included the Paris Olympic Games. However, a painful ankle limited Jena's performance in 2024, and he fell short of expectations. He did not make it to the medal round in his Olympic debut in France. Due to the injury, Jena was unable to surpass 85m in any competition throughout the 2024 season.

India's World and Olympic champion, Neeraj Chopra, was among the 12-athlete finalists and won silver at the Paris Olympic Games. Jena's personal best of 87.54m was recorded during the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, held in China in 2023, where he won silver behind Chopra. At the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships, Jena finished fifth with a throw of 84.77m.

Jena understands the importance of a gradual recovery for ankle stability. However, it might take nearly two months before he can resume normal training. Until then, his focus will be on rehabilitation and upper-body exercises in the gym.

"I have no plans to rush back to normal training. I will go through proper rehab for solid ankle stability," Jena explained.

Achieving peak fitness and competing with the best in the 2025 season, which includes the World Athletics Championships, will be a challenging task.

Jena's primary goal is to qualify for the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships, scheduled to be held in Japan from 13 September. The qualifying standard is 85.50m for men's javelin throw, though athletes can also qualify through the world ranking system.

Since the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has decentralised national camps following the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, elite athletes can now train at venues of their choice. For now, Jena has decided to practise in Mumbai. "For the next three months, I will be in Mumbai," he told Mykhel.com over the phone from Mumbai.