Kishore Jena To Participate In Paris Diamond League

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2022 Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Jena will participate in the Paris Diamond League. Jena, who has already qualified for the Paris Olympics, claimed a bronze medal at the recently concluded Inter-State Athletics Championships in Panchkula with a best throw of 80.84 meters.

It is the first time this season that the 28-year-old has surpassed the 80-meter mark. Before the Inter-State Athletics Championships, Jena's best throw was 76.31 meters at the Doha Diamond League, which was also his first Diamond League.

After that, he participated in the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar, where his best throw was 75.49 meters. At the Federation Cup, golden boy Neeraj Chopra also participated, marking his first competition in India after 3 years.

"I got a lot of relief by throwing 80m here at the Inter State Athletics Championships, and now I can throw freely in the Paris Diamond League. I will try to give my best there," Jena told myKhel exclusively.

There was quite a bit of pressure on the Odisha javelin thrower after the Asian Games, where he threw 87.54 meters, earning him an Asian Games medal. However, since then, Kishore Jena has struggled to breach the 80m mark.

"Yes, I feel relieved now because I had thrown 82-83 meters during training sessions, but I wasn't able to achieve that in the competition, which put a lot of pressure on me. I also had some pain in my ankle and was worried it might get worse, especially since I have to compete in the Diamond League on the 7th. Now, I am feeling much better," added the 28-year-old thrower.

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has withdrawn from this Sunday\'s Paris Diamond League due to an adductor niggle that has been bothering him for the past few months, according to a report.

The Paris Diamond League will take place on Sunday, 7 July 2024 in the 20,000-seater Stade Charléty in Paris, France.