‘If Neeraj Chopra can, why not me?’: National record holder Nirbhay Chaudhary on his Olympic dream

Nirbhay Chaudhary (Image Credit: Special Arrangement) NEW DELHI: “Maine waha se start kiya hai jaha se log finish karte hain (I started where others end)” – is how hammer thrower Nirbhay Chaudhary looks at his national record performance. He threw 71.02m at the Indian Athletics Series finals in October this year, breaking a national record that had stood for almost 10 years.His throw obliterated the previous record of 70.73m set by Neeraj Kumar in 2016.Despite the record, Nirbhay was not fully satisfied with his efforts. After releasing the hammer, he initially thought of stepping out of the circle so the throw wouldn’t count. However, he changed his mind.A few moments later he heard a noise around him. When he asked his coach what had happened, he was told that he had broken the national record.“I did the throw by accident. I didn’t think it would be a record effort. I didn’t even use much power. I never expected the hammer to go that far or break the national record. I don’t know how it got that far,” Nirbhay told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.For Nirbhay, whose name means ‘fearless’, the national record is just the beginning. Now he wants to overcome 75 meters and eventually reach 80 meters.“This is just the beginning. I’m really proud of this performance. It gave me a new start. I started where others end,” he said.

Wall of inspiration: From 70m + to 75m

A few months ago, Nirbhay returned to his room after a tiring training session. He was all sweaty, but the session wasn’t going as planned. He struggled to perform and his body tired quickly as he recovered from dengue fever.His family also worried about his future in athletics. Frustrated and angry, Nirbhay picked up a marker and wrote the target on the wall next to the bed: “70 + National Record”. He also set a date – September 10. He then prepared a training plan and followed it carefully. His routine included getting up early, hammer cleaning, stretching, weight training, jogging and practicing full force throws.He reached his goal on the day he set for himself. After breaking the national record, he crossed out 70m on the wall and replaced it with 75m.“I ticked 70 and wrote 75. I will achieve this goal too. It is true that there is no substitute for hard work. I believe in it. I am also stubborn. If I work hard with determination, I will get what I want. I will continue to do so,” said Nirbhay.He revealed that he wrote the target on the wall last year when he was going through a difficult phase.“I wrote it last year. I was very frustrated at the time. My family was also worried because my physical condition had deteriorated a lot. Everyone asked me to continue playing sports, even though I could only do a little.”

Nirbhay Chaudhary (Image Credit: Special Arrangement)

“I know the state I was in. And it took a year for that to happen. But the happiness I feel now can’t be bought. The feeling is unreal. But I won’t stop,” he said.Nirbhay believes that another season of hard work can help him take a big leap in performance.“I need one more season. After that I can reach the big mark. 75m is my main goal now and then I want to reach 80m. It will take a lot of hard work but I am sure I can do it,” he said.

71.02 m is not enough: A long way

Nirbhay knows that 71.02m is not enough to compete in the biggest international events. Although his throw was above the Asian Games qualifying mark of 69.12m, he missed the opportunity to compete in the Asian Games due to the timing of the qualification process and related deadlines.“The exercise was going on. The question of qualification was actually about deadlines. It depends on the host country. If the host sends an invitation or agrees to accommodate you, then it can be resolved even if you arrive late. But there is a deadline for everything.“There’s a fixed time for it. By the time that deadline passed, I wasn’t competing anymore. I was just preparing for training and stuff. I wasn’t even thinking about going or not. We couldn’t decide in time, so it didn’t happen. I couldn’t go,” he said.Nirbhay believes that Indian hammer throw needs to improve its standards. While athletes in other events have raised their level, he wants to bring the same change to the hammer throw.“I feel I can progress in hammer throw in India. We have to change things. Neeraj (Chopra) bhai set an example for everyone in javelin. I want to do the same in hammer throw. First he cleared 70m, then 80m, 85m and now 90m. I want to achieve similar milestones in hammer throw,” said Nirbhay.“The standard of hammer throw in India has been very low for a long time. I want to raise that standard. I also want other athletes who are currently lagging behind to reach this level. I want more youngsters to take up hammer throw as a career and more athletes to join the event,” he said.

Nirbhay Chaudhary (Image Credit: Special Arrangement)

Nirbhaya’s Olympic dreams

India has never had an Olympic medal in hammer throw. The country also has very few representatives in the event at the Games.Somnath Chopra represented India at the 1948 Summer Olympics and finished 23rd in the qualifying round. Erman Bastian represented India in the 1960 Summer Olympics but did not start his event.Praveen Kumar Sobti, who later rose to fame playing Bheem in the TV series Mahabharat, represented India at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He finished 20th in the qualifying round.India won five medals in the hammer throw at the Asian Games, including two silver and three bronze. Somnath Chopra and Kishen Singh won silver and bronze at the 1951 Games. Praveen Kumar added another bronze in 1966, while Nirmal Singh Grewal won silver in 1974. Manju Bala was India’s latest hammer throw medalist when he won bronze at the 2014 Asian Games.India has won only one medal in hammer throw in the history of the Commonwealth Games. Praveen Kumar Sobti won silver at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston.For Nirbhay, breaking the national record is just the first step. He wants to take India’s hammer throw to the next level and believes the country can win an Olympic medal. The Olympic qualification mark for the Los Angeles Games in 2028 is 78.50m.“Why can’t we win an Olympic medal? Like I said, we have to lead by example. I can be that example. I really want to put hammer throw on India’s Olympic medal map. India can win an Olympic medal in hammer throw. All we need is one example, one athlete who achieves something big. Then the path will be easier for others.”“Now I have almost all the facilities I need. I am getting support from the Athletics Federation and SAI. My coaches including Naval Singh have given their best. I have the equipment and everything else I need. So I will do it. I believe in myself. I will achieve this,” he said.