Asian U23 Javelin Champion Anand Singh Sets Sights on 85m After Historic Gold Medal

India’s rising javelin sensation Anand Singh has set an ambitious new target after winning gold at the Asian U23 Athletics Championships in Ordos, China. The 22-year-old produced a career-best throw of 80.57 metres to claim the title in his first international competition and announce himself as one of India’s most promising field athletes.

The achievement marked a major milestone in Anand’s young career and made him the sixth javelin thrower from Uttar Pradesh to breach the 80-metre barrier, joining an elite list that includes Rohit Yadav, Sachin Yadav, Vipin Kasana, Shivpal Singh, and Rishabh Nehra.

Anand Singh Targets the 85-Metre Mark

Having crossed the 80m milestone, Anand is already focused on his next challenge.

“After breaching the 80-metre mark, my next dream is to throw beyond 85 metres. Winning gold in my first international event has given me a huge confidence boost, and I want to continue improving,” Anand said.

The gold medal was India’s only individual-event title at the inaugural Asian U23 Championships, where the country finished with an impressive tally of 16 medals.

From Azamgarh to International Success

Hailing from Kishun Devpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh district, Anand comes from a family with a sporting background. His grandfather, Brij Bahadur Singh, played volleyball for the Railway Protection Force, while his uncle Amarnath Singh was involved in javelin.

Anand began training in javelin in 2018 and initially worked under coach Rustam Khan in Jaunpur before moving to Mumbai, where he received support from the Reliance Sports Foundation to further develop his talent.

His journey reflects years of dedication and steady progression through India’s athletics system.

Kishore Jena’s Influence on Anand’s Career

Anand credits Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Jena as one of the biggest influences on his development.

Training alongside Jena has allowed the young thrower to learn valuable technical and mental aspects of the sport.

“Kishore Jena is not just my role model; he is also my mentor, guide, and friend. Training with him has helped me understand the sport at a much deeper level,” Anand explained.

Rapid Rise in Indian Athletics

Anand’s progress over the past year has been remarkable. Before his gold-winning effort in China, he recorded 77.68m at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar and finished runner-up at the Indian Open Throws Competition in Patiala with a throw of 76.94m.

His winning mark of 80.57m represented an improvement of nearly three metres over his previous personal best, highlighting the rapid development in his technique and confidence.

Eyes on the World Championships and Olympics

With the Asian U23 title secured, Anand is now looking toward bigger stages.

His long-term goals include qualifying for the World Athletics Championships and representing India at the Olympic Games. While he still has a significant gap to close on Neeraj Chopra’s national record of 90.23m, coaches believe Anand possesses the talent and work ethic to continue climbing the ranks.

As Indian athletics continues to produce world-class javelin throwers, Anand Singh’s breakthrough performance in China has added another exciting name to the country’s growing list of medal hopefuls for the future.