Indian sports has found a new hero in Shivam Lohakare, a young javelin thrower who crossed the 80-metre mark with an impressive throw of 80.95 metres in Pune on July 12, 2025. He is now the 16th Indian athlete to join the 80-metre club, which is a big deal in javelin. This achievement shows how India’s interest and talent in athletics is growing with time.
Shivam is only 20 years old, but his journey already inspires many. He belongs to Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, and his early days in sports were not easy. He didn’t have big facilities or professional coaching in the beginning. What he did have was strong willpower and a deep love for sports.
He first tried javelin in 2019 at a small district event and managed a throw of 45 metres. At that time, he had no proper training and was more into other sports like long jump, kabaddi and kho-kho. When the COVID-19 lockdown shut down sports grounds, he didn’t stop. Shivam began practicing on an open road near his village. He once cycled 70 kilometres just to buy an aluminium javelin from another town. These small stories show how much effort he put into chasing his dream.
After the lockdown ended, Shivam moved to Pune for better training. He joined the Army Sports Institute and worked with coaches Amol and Hrishikesh. Later, he trained under Kashinath Naik, who had won a bronze medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. With their help, Shivam’s skills improved fast. By 2022, he was competing in state U-20 events and in 2023, he won a silver medal at the Junior Nationals. A back injury slowed him down for a while, but he continued practicing with focus.
One thing that got people talking was that Shivam throws with his left hand, which is not very common in javelin. He trained hard every day, learning from senior athletes like DP Manu, who also trains with him. He worked on building strength and throwing with better technique. According to him, it was his regular practice and strong belief in himself that helped him reach the 80-metre milestone.
Since Neeraj Chopra won the Olympic gold in 2021, javelin has become more popular in India. Shivam is part of a new generation of athletes who are getting serious about this sport. Other famous names include Kishore Jena, Shivpal Singh, DP Manu and Rohit Yadav. Shivam now joins this growing list of talented throwers.
The rise of athletes like Shivam is not happening by chance. Government schemes such as Khelo India and the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) have made training and sports equipment more accessible across India. Earlier, such facilities were only in big cities, but now even small towns and villages are seeing improvement. This is giving talented young people a fair chance to prove themselves.
Still, talent is just one part of success. Athletes need proper coaching, recovery time, mental support and knowledge about injury prevention. Shivam himself has said that after his injury, he understood how important it is to give the body rest and healing time. High-level sports require both physical and mental strength, and support systems are important to help players stay fit and focused.
Shivam now has a new goal in mind. He wants to reach the 85-metre mark, which could open the door to events like the World Championships and the Olympics. His six-foot-one frame and 90-kg body have already gone through tough times, but he remains positive. After his latest throw, he simply said, “I just feel like I can do better.” That attitude shows he is ready to aim even higher.
Shivam’s story is more than just a sports achievement. It is a story of hard work, small beginnings and big dreams. From practicing on an empty village road to competing among India’s best javelin throwers, he shows what is possible when a young person believes in themselves and doesn’t give up.
India needs more athletes like Shivam. And if the current support and training continue to grow, many more youngsters will be ready to shine on the world stage in the years to come.
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