Africa champion Leshan eyes World record

Africa Under-20 javelin champion Ita Nao Leshan is seeking to set a world junior record at this year’s World Under-20 championships slated for Nairobi between July 7-12.

The 18-year-old will not only be looking to better his current Personal Best of 75.66m as he also targets to smash current record of 86.48m held by India’s Neeraj Chopra.

Leshan represented Kenya at the 2017 World Under-18 championships held in Nairobi where he finished a distant ninth despite achieving his then personal best of 64.66m.

With another global showpiece coming home, Leshan believes he has gained vast experience over the years that can propel him to hit 90m mark and subsequently make it to the Olympic Games team as well.

“This year(2020) will be my last year at the junior category. My major target this year is to break the world junior record and so my training currently is geared towards that. I am certain that everything is possible, if people can manage a throw of 94m then we can also do the same. I am optimistic that I will achieve my dream of attaining 90m and also make the Olympic team,” Leshan told Citizen Digital.

The athlete who hails from Narok County ranked fourth at the 2018 Youth Olympics held in Buenos Aires, Argentina after managing a throw of 74.52m.

Despite training without a coach, Leshan has hailed former world champion Julius Yego and his coach Joseph Mosonik for their guidance.

“Of course, it is a challenge training alone but I am also grateful to coach Mosonik who usually sends me programs for my training and also Julius Yego whom I usually consult and has always assisted me. However, with or without a coach and without focus then you won’t make it,” he said.

Leshan was among the athletes selected by Athletics Kenya (AK) to train in one of its 14 countrywide camps that was based at Emurua Dikirr High School in Narok County ahead of next year’s World Junior championships.