“Zindagi ka aakhri sawal hey, dam lagake marna.” (Take this as the final question of life, throw with full force).
This explosive final directive from Yashvir Singh’s father was all the motivation the javelin thrower needed. Moments later, he launched a career-defining throw to win a dramatic Commonwealth Games bronze medal.
On Friday in Glasgow, the 24-year-old Yashvir stunned everyone by winning the bronze with a personal-best throw of 85.41m on his sixth and final attempt. This allowed him to join Indian superstar Neeraj Chopra — who clinched the silver — on the podium. His previous personal best was 83.72m.
Yashvir was at seventh spot after the penultimate round with an 81.33m throw from his third attempt, before producing a memorable 85.41m in his final throw.
“Throwing beyond 85m is not a big thing for my son. Just before the run-up for his final throw, I just told him straight that ‘Zindagi sawar jayegi, dam lagake marna’. He did exactly that and I am very proud of him,” Yashvir’s father Rai Singh told PTI over phone from Glasgow, when asked what he said to his son at the last moment.
Rai, who is also the personal coach of Yashvir and a former national level javelin thrower himself, was standing at the gallery of Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow just above the runway for the javelin throwers.
“I told him ‘beta zindagi badal jayegi, full effort lagana, jitna tej bhaag sakte ho bhaago, gir jaye toh girne do, zindagi ka aakhri sawal hey ush maksat mey tum khara utara ho’ (Son, your life will change, put in full effort. Run as fast as you can run. If you fall, it’s okay. This is the ultimate test, and you must stand true to this purpose).”
Yashvir had earlier spoken about his father’s contribution in his career and how he began with a javelin made of bamboo.
Rai has won national medals and Railway championships titles before his retirement in 2006. He became a Railways coach on sports quota. He is a NIS Diploma holder.
The bronze medal was not only a personal achievement for Yashvir, but also the realization of his father’s unfulfilled dream.
“I have won medals in senior National Open and National Inter-State (in late 1990s and early 2000s). I have held Railways record, Delhi and Haryana records. I am a NIS Diploma holder and Railways employee on sports quota. I am originally from Bhiwani but I have been working (at Railways) for the last 32 years and I am now settled in Jaipur.
“I have put all my strength behind him (Yashvir). My family has put all their strength behind him.”
Yashvir was born and brought up in Jaipur and is also currently based in the Rajasthan capital, working for Indian Railways.
“I was always clear that Yashvir should take up an individual sport and win medals in Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and like that. I could not do it myself, could not win medals in CWG, Asian Games, so I want him to win these big medals.
“I wanted my son to fulfil the dream which I could not fulfil, may be because of lack of coaching, equipment diet etc. So, I have been doing my best that my son should not face those difficulties and lack of support and facilities.
“So, you can say I am a very happy father with Yashvir winning the Commonwealth Games medal. But this is just the beginning, he will keep on achieving more and more.”
In fact, athletics runs in the blood of three generations of Yashvir’s family.
“My father was a national level 400m hurdler and my younger brother runs 110m hurdles and he is with Railways. Yashvir’s brother (Utsav) won medal in javelin in Khelo India University Games (recently),” Rai said.
Initially, Rai made Yashvir and Utsav play all sorts of sports, including basketball.
“The purpose of basketball is that it helps in the growth of the whole body. I have made my two sons play basketball.”
Yashvir trains at Jaipur’s Railways Stadium of which Rai is the in-charge. He was associated with JSW for some time but left after an injury, according to Rai.
“I can look after him 24 hours, what he is doing, what he is eating, like that, it’s like home tuition. So, I kept my son with me, the Athletics Federation of India knows it that Yashvir will train with me.”