# Jharkhand’s Shilpa Kumari targets Youth Olympics javelin podium

2026-08-14T09:24:22+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 2 independent outlets

Jharkhand teenager Shilpa Kumari, India’s U-17 women’s javelin record holder, is targeting a podium finish at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal. The event is scheduled from October 31 to November 13. Shilpa, from a village in Gumla district, took up javelin after watching Neeraj Chopra win Olympic gold on television. She trained at the Sports Authority of India centre in Ranchi after being selected at a trial three years ago. She threw 55.62 metres at the 2025 National School Games, better than India’s U-18 record of 55.19 metres. The mark was not officially recognised because the event was not sanctioned by World Athletics. Her official personal best is 45.90 metres, set at the 2025 Junior Nationals, where she finished fifth.

## Coverage

- telanganatoday.com <https://telanganatoday.com/jharkhands-shilpa-kumari-aims-to-follow-neeraj-chopras-path-to-olympic-glory>
- sports.ndtv.com <https://sports.ndtv.com/athletics/inspired-by-neeraj-chopra-jharkhands-teen-sensation-shilpa-kumari-dreams-of-olympic-glory-11911898>

Tags: athletics, javelin throw, Jharkhand, Neeraj Chopra, Shilpa Kumari, Youth Olympics
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