Indian javelin throwers get special speed, strength machine for ahead of  Tokyo 2020

Tokyo-bound javelin throwers Neeraj Chopra and Shivpal Singh were handed a major boost ahead of the Games, slated to run from July 23 to August 8 2021, as the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) secured a special machine to assist the athletes with their strength and speed.

The Kraft Training Gerat (KTG) will allow athletes to throw along an ideal trajectory with little risk of injury.

AFI was in talks with China to procure the machine from early 2020 but the process was delayed due to the Covid-19 situation.

Germany and China were the only two countries to provide assistance to their athletes with the machine with India now joining the list.

"This allows athletes to develop throwing strength that is very javelin specific and believes that the machines will surely benefit India's javelin throwers. They will soon start training on these machines under the supervision of German coaches Uwe Hohn and biomechanics expert Dr Klaus Bartonietz," chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair said in an official statement.

The device sled weighs 3.8kg. It can be loaded with 10kg with a maximum weight of 13.8kg. The sled is thrown for maximum velocity which is measured between two present points and is captured after every throw.

Dr Klaus, who will be supervising the training sessions on the machine, was part of the development team of KTG while Hohn was among the first athletes to use it when introduced in the 1980s in Germany.

"Late elite javelin coach Karl Hellmann who coached greats such as Ruth Fuchs and Petra Felke had the initial idea. We then put our brains together to make a machine like this, I was part of the development team," Klaus said.

"The key for high release speed is the development of javelin specific throwing power. Lifting weights cannot do this. Athletes must accelerate weights, throw heavy stuff and you can do it on such a machine. But mind you, it is not for young athletes as it is not a magic machine and it can spoil your technique. It is for training of elite athletes only under the supervision of proper coach," he added.

AFI president Adille Sumariwalla, meanwhile, is optimistic that the Indian athletes will get the best possible training using the machine.

"These machines are imported with great difficulties due to the pandemic. We wanted German technology and machines but the German company refused to give us these machines. We then found a Chinese company who was ready to sell these to us. I am happy that finally our athletes will be able to get the best training using this."

German javelin thrower and contender for Tokyo 2020 gold Johannes Vetter, also uses the same machine for training.