China shock as Lyu Huihui falls short in the women’s javelin at Doha worlds
- The mainlander ‘unable to handle the details’ as she throws only 65.49 metres having led the qualifying round in Doha on 67.27 metres
- China are pinning their hopes on shot putter Gong to better the two-gold medal haul achieved in London two years ago
Chinese fans watched in dismay as overwhelming favourite Lyu Huihui failed in the women’s javelin throw at the IAAF World Athletics Championships early on Wednesday (Hong Kong time).
The 30-year-old suffered her first defeat of 2019 after 12 victories, having to settle for a bronze medal in Doha with her fifth throw of 65.49 metres. Kelsey-Lee Barber of Australia won the first gold for her country, saving her best for last with a throw of 66.56 metres. Lyu’s compatriot, Liu Shiying, came second with a season best 65.88 metres.
Lyu, who led the qualifying round the previous night with a throw of 67.27 metres, was widely considered the country’s top prospect for the gold medal among China’s 63-member squad.
Xinhua only briefly mentioned her performance, with Lyu blaming her defeat on not being able to “handle the details” and being too eager to get power behind her throws, which affected her overall delivery.
A fan from Zhejiang said on Sina Sports online portal that the javelin thrower had to improve her mental state, or “Lyu could never win at major championships”, while another fan said: “Rather than saying she lost the meet to other opponents, it would be better to say she lost it to herself. Lyu has the ability to win it, but blew away the chance due to psychological reasons”.
One fan said Lyu could still become Olympic champion in Tokyo next year, but another fan countered, saying Lyu could become another Zhu Jianhua, the men’s high jump world record holder in the 1980s who only managed a bronze medal at the inaugural worlds in Helsinki in 1983 and another bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
China are keen to improve the modest haul of two gold medals they won at the last world championships in London two years ago. Having pocketed two golds already in the women’s 20km and 50km race walk in Doha, they looked likely to do so through Lyu in the javelin.
Now they have to rely on women’s shot putter Gong Lijiao on Thursday. Gong has a world leading heave of the year of 20.31 metres, achieved in the Diamond League series in Zurich in August.
China are still in second place in the medal table with two golds, two silvers and three bronzes, behind the US, who have seven gold medals so far.
