Former World Champion Sergey Makarov set to oversee India’s javelin programme
Former World Champion Sergey Makarov set to oversee India’s javelin programme
Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Sergey Makarov will oversee India’s elite javelin throw programme, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced on Monday.
The body also revealed that the 51-year-old Russian would be based in the National Institute of Sports (NIS) Patiala.
The hunt for a new javelin coach began after Dr Klaus Bartonietz, who guided Neeraj Chopra to two Olympic medals, announced that he would not continue in this role.
“We didn’t get any coach for Neeraj Chopra. We want Makarov to work with all of India’s throwers,” AFI chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair had told Sportstar in October 2024.
Apart from winning bronze in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, Makarov is also the 2003 World Champion and the 2005 World Championship bronze medallist. The Russian has a personal best of 92.61m, placing him eighth on the all-time list.
“Aleksandrovich’s [Makarov] vast experience as an athlete and coach will surely give fillip to development of javelin throw in the country,” Nair was quoted saying in a press release.
(With inputs from PTI)
