Indian javelin throwers celebrated coach Sergey Makarov’s first birthday in India. The Russian expert turned 52 on Wednesday.
In a video posted by Olympian Shivpal Singh, Makarov could be seen treated by Indian javelin throwers including Rohit Yadav, Rohan Yadav, Mohit Chaudhary, Rajat Chaudhary, and Mangal Gujjar amongst others.
One of the Indian javelin throwers lit up the candle on the cake for their coach and sang the birthday song. Shivpal Singh posted the video on Instagram, with the caption, “Happy Birthday @sergey9261 coach 🎂🥳”.
Makarov has been roped in to oversee India’s elite javelin throw program after the departure of German biomechanics expert Dr Klaus Bartonietz.
The 51-year-old Russian is based at the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala. He will groom the Indian javelin throwers, including youngsters like Annu Rani for a three-year cycle.
Makarov has the best throw of 92.61m and comes from a family of javelin throwers. His father Aleksandr Fyodorovich Makarov won a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Summer Games.
Grooming the Indian athletes for the 2025 World Athletics Championships slated from September 13 will be among his priority.
He crossed the 90m mark four times with the best throw of 92.61m coming at Sheffield in 2002.
A two-time World Championship bronze medalist, Makarov is a two-time bronze medalist in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games.