Liu Zhekai in the javelin at the IAAF World U18 Championships Nairobi 2017 (© Getty Images)
South Africa’s Anro van Eeden is the standout U20 thrower this year with a best of 77.59m, and if he can reproduce that in Tampere it should secure gold for the 19-year-old.
His world U20-leading throw came at his national U20 championships back in April and, given the nature of the South African season, he has barely competed since.
If there has been any loss of form, then Turkey’s Toygar Ismet Pekbak looks best placed to steal the show. The 19-year-old has a personal best of 75.27m which he threw on home turf in Eskisehir back in May, while more recently he took gold at the Balkan U20 Championships with a best of 70.49m.
If there's one event that the host nation will want to perform well in, it's the javelin. Teemu Narvi appears to be one of Finland's best hopes for a medal after his recent improvement to 75.15m just a matter of days ahead of the World U20 Championships.
India’s Sahil Silwal should also be in the medal shake-up, particularly if he reproduces his best of 74.88m, as should US U20 champion Taran Taylor, who has a best of 74.26m. Portugal’s Leandro Ramos enjoyed a huge breakthrough this year, setting what was then a world U20 lead of 73.61m, which will make the 17-year-old a strong contender.
Others who may spring a surprise include neutral athlete Nikolay Orlov, Netherlands’ Tom Egbers, Brazil’s Pedro Henrique Nunes Rodrigues and China’s world U18 champion Liu Zhekai.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
