Javelin thrower Annu Rani wants outdoor training to be resume


Javelin thrower Annu Rani wants outdoor training to be resume

images 2020 05 14T083050.355

Annu Rani, who is a javelin thrower is confident of achieving the Olympics qualification mark once sporting action resumes after the coronavirus outbreak. Rani holds the record with a throw of 62.34 metres.

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Right now, Annu is staying at National Institute of Sports in Patiala. She said, “Javelin is all about technique. Of course, power does matter, but I think I have enough strength to throw long. It is about fine-tuning the technique, and once that is done, I am confident of breaching the qualification mark. In this sport, you can make up 3-4 metres just by getting your technique right.”

She said about her game that, “Many times, people don’t understand that javelin is a very technical sport. It looked very easy to me as well when I started, but gradually I began to understand its complexities. There are a number of technical points that I am looking to work on. My angle of release tends to go high at times due to which I struggle to put all my power behind the throw. So, I need to get that right. Then, I need to work on the speed of my run-up. Once I sort out these issues, I am confident I can shave off the difference between me and the Olympic qualification mark.”

Along with 50 other athletes, Annu is trying to stay fit as all the outdoor activities has been restricted.

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She said, “We have quite a few dumbbells here. There are medicine balls and also a small ground that we use for bodyweight training. Javelin requires full-body strength, from big muscle groups to smaller joints. I train my shoulders using weights while back is taken care of by some workouts on the medicine ball.”

She added,  “Our coaches have advised us to take it easy and not over train, because once we get to full-fledged training, there will not be many rest days or breaks.”

Annu thinks that athletes must be allowed to train outside. She says “I think the government or the authorities must think in that direction. Here in NIS, no one moves out or comes in, and we step out of our rooms only to go to the mess. We are in isolation anyway and it is quite safe. We have most of the equipment here, there’s a gym that we can use, and there are training grounds. That is enough to get us started.”

Annu spends her time by watching videos of her previous training and performance videos and analyse it. She also watches videos of  footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and swimming legend Michael Phelps.

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She said, “I regularly watch videos of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Phelps. Watching their training, discipline, and life stories is so inspiring. Then, I read a bit too. Athletes are used to train 5-6 hours each day, and to suddenly sit idle for most part of the day is quite frustrating, to be honest. It is tough, but we do not have a choice.”

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