Ashish Yadav: The milkman's son from Mirzapur carrying India's javelin legacy forward

Growing up, Ashish wasn't convinced that sport could become a career. Seeing my father sell milk, I didn't have much confidence that I would be able to do something big.

The turning point came when Ashish moved to Hisar and began working with coach Arvind. It was there that his training became systematic and scientific.

What Happened

His official competitive journey also began after he started working with Arvind. When he arrived, Ashish was throwing around 60 metres.

• Ashish said he weighed around 65-66kg when he arrived in Hisar.

• Now, the 19-year-old from Mirzapur has a world medal and a bigger target ahead: qualifying for the Senior World Championships next year.

• Once, the dream was simply to throw 70 metres.

Key Details

He wasn't thinking about world medals or senior championships. The 70m barrier soon became a stepping stone.

• Neeraj Chopra's shadow looms large over every young Indian javelin thrower.

• Ashish is now entering a space where comparisons with India's biggest javelin star are inevitable.

• He believes Mirzapur has plenty of youngsters with the physical ability to excel in sport, but they need the right opportunities and environment.

Why It Matters

Arvind worked on Ashish's technique, something the youngster admits he did not properly understand earlier. Strength training and gym work became part of his routine, while nutrition and recovery were brought into the picture.

• Ashish's journey has also changed the way he looks at the children back home.

• That mark secured him silver behind South Africa's Jan-Hendrik Heymans, who won with 80.50m.

What Reports Say

Coverage of the story so far points to:

• Continued reporting by India Today as more details emerge