As a child, Manoj Chavan had a habit. He used to throw stones in the fields near his home to crack open coconuts. Nobody called it talent then. Nobody called it training. It was just something a farm boy did to pass the time.
Today, those same arms are launching a javelin past 71 metres. Furthermore, Manoj is now ranked among the top-10 Under-20 javelin throwers in India. He is 19 years old. He trains in Nagpur every single day. Moreover, he has one dream — to win a medal for India, just like his idol Neeraj Chopra.
From 100m Sprints to Javelin Throw — How It Started
Manoj Chavan did not start as a javelin thrower. Furthermore, he was originally a 100-metre sprinter. However, everything changed during his school games.
“My coach suggested I try javelin and discus during the school sports events,” Manoj recalls. “After that, I started enjoying javelin throw and made it my goal.”
The transition was not smooth at first. In his very first year of competition, he failed to advance past the divisional level. However, he did not quit. Moreover, he trained harder than before. As a result, just one year later, he began winning at state and national levels.
The 71.88 Metre Throw That Changed Everything
Manoj’s career-defining moment came in 2024. He threw the javelin 71.88 metres during a national competition. Furthermore, that single throw placed him firmly among India’s top U20 javelin athletes.
“That performance gave me confidence that I can compete with the best in the country,” Manoj says. Moreover, in practice sessions, he has already crossed 72 metres. Therefore, his best competitive throw is likely to improve soon.
His next big target is the U20 international qualification mark. Furthermore, he believes he can achieve it. “I am confident I can get the international qualification mark,” he says. As a result, representing India at international level is no longer a distant dream for this Nagpur youngster.
His Daily Routine — No Shortcuts
Manoj Chavan’s training schedule is intense. Furthermore, it runs almost the entire day without breaks.
He wakes up before dawn every morning. Training begins at 5:30 AM and runs until 9:30 AM. Moreover, he then heads to the Sports Science Centre for strength and technical training in the afternoon. In the evening, he returns to the ground for another session. As a result, his entire day revolves around a single goal.
“The facilities at Mission Lakshyavedh are very good,” Manoj says. “Coach Ishita Roy is working a lot with me on technique and fitness. Furthermore, Krida Prabodhini also helped me greatly in the initial stage.” As a result of this systematic training, his throw distance has improved by nearly 12 metres compared to when he started.
Coach Ishita Roy — The Woman Behind His Rise
Behind every great athlete is a coach who believes in them. For Manoj, that person is Ishita Roy.
Coach Roy is direct in her assessment of her student. “Manoj Chavan is an extremely hardworking athlete,” she says. “He has discipline, dedication, hard work and consistency — all four qualities that a top athlete needs.” Furthermore, she adds that his behaviour on and off the field is also exemplary.
“If he keeps working this hard, he will definitely achieve big things,” Roy says. Moreover, she points to the 12-metre improvement in his throw as evidence of the progress being made. As a result, she is confident that international competition is within his reach very soon.
The Family Story — A Father’s Sacrifice
Behind Manoj’s athletic journey is a family making significant sacrifices. His father, Sambhaji Chavan, is originally from Kolhapur. Moreover, he works as a daily wage labourer to support the family.
His only son is away from home, chasing his dream in Nagpur. Furthermore, the family holds on to their hope that Manoj will succeed and make them proud. As a result, every throw Manoj makes in training carries the weight of his family’s faith and his father’s hard work.
This is a story that resonates deeply across Vidarbha and Maharashtra — a young man from a working-class family, far from home, with limited resources, competing with the country’s best through sheer talent and discipline.
Indian Athletics Series-13 — The Next Challenge
Manoj recently won gold at a state-level javelin competition held in Nagpur with the longest throw of the day. Furthermore, this performance confirmed his position as the top javelin talent in Maharashtra’s U20 category.
His next big test is the Indian Athletics Series-13, which begins on August 18. Moreover, he has already been selected to compete in this national-level event. Manoj sees it as a major opportunity to push his performance to the next level. As a result, he is currently training with extra intensity to be at his peak on August 18.
“I want to give my best performance at this competition,” Manoj says. Furthermore, he hopes that a strong showing at the Indian Athletics Series-13 will strengthen his case for India’s U20 international team selection.
Why Neeraj Chopra Is His Inspiration
No conversation about Indian javelin throwing can happen without mentioning Neeraj Chopra. Furthermore, Manoj confirms that Neeraj is the reason he fell in love with this sport.
“I consider Neeraj Chopra my idol,” Manoj says. “Watching him is what motivates me to keep going. My dream is to win a medal for India just like he did.”
Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 triggered a javelin revolution across India. Moreover, it inspired thousands of young athletes in tier-2 and tier-3 cities to pick up the javelin. Manoj Chavan is one of them — a product of that inspiration, training quietly in Nagpur while aiming for the same international stages his hero conquered.
What Nagpur Can Do for Manoj
Manoj Chavan represents exactly the kind of athlete that Nagpur’s developing sports infrastructure is meant to support. Furthermore, the new ₹100 crore District Sports Complex being built in Kamptee will eventually provide world-class athletics facilities for athletes like him.
However, right now, Manoj needs consistent support. Moreover, the Mission Lakshyavedh programme he is part of provides financial assistance and training access. As a result, he can focus entirely on training without worrying about funding.
