Gujarat: Neeraj Chopra-inspired self-taught tribal youth strikes gold in javelin

VADODARA: His spear matched no others during his school days, but Bharat Rathwa, an orphan boy from Chhota Udepur, had given up on his javelin fearing it won't give him any scope in India.
But when Haryana's Neeraj Chopra fetched the Olympic gold last year, this 22-year-old tribal from a remote village in Gujarat picked up his javelin once again, and with a stupendous comeback by winning a gold medal at the 6th International Games in Nepal.

"It is my first gold at international level and I dedicate it to Neeraj Chopra. I can't describe my feelings in words but this feat has given me a boost to compete at a higher level," Rathwa told TOI.
What's more, it is unbelievably true that Rathwa began practising javelin professionally only a year ago.
"I had won several javelin throwing contests in school but gave up the sport as I felt it doesn't have much scope in India ," recalled Rathwa.
I had won several javelin throwing contests in school but gave up the sport as I felt it doesn't have much scope in India. I was into cricket for two years. But last year Neeraj Chopra made history by winning an Olympic gold in javelin throwing," recalled Rathwa, adding that his hopes were rekindled by Chopra's feat.
And that was a defining moment for this tribal athlete.
"I thought that if Neeraj can do it, so can I. So, I began practising javelin professionally again in August last year. After two months I participated in my first inter-district open athletics championships in Himmatnagar in October and won a bronze medal," he added.
Egged on by success, Rathwa participated in the state-level athletics championship at Rajkot where he won silver. That was followed by a gold medal in the national athletics championships in Morbi as well as another gold in the national tournament in Maharashtra this year.
Interestingly, Rathwa doesn't undergo any professional coaching.
"After a brief training session in Delhi some months ago, I returned to Gujarat as I wasn't comfortable in getting trained amid public view. I coach myself by watching YouTube videos and consulting some experts including Kishan sir who guides me often," said the gifted athlete.
Rathwa lost his parents when he was in Class 7 and he dropped out of the school after failing to clear the HSC exams. He is now looked after by his sister, but Rathwa aspires to be financially independent."Rathwa is a very promising talent. I spotted him during the athletics tournament in Himmatnagar last year and began supporting him. I know some coaches who offer him help sometimes as he prefers to train himself. He has the potential to make it big in javelin throwing," said Kishan Dalsania, secretary, sports, youth and cultural department, Delhi.