In The Throws With MICHAEL MUSSELMAN

How a coach from Peru mobilised an entire nation with a Facebook page and an unflinching dedication to India's javelin scene

- Ravi Raj

It was in the summer of 2016 that Michael Musselman created the Facebook page, Indian Javelin. It was a humble but honest endeavour that Musselman started to track the goings-on of the javelin scene in India. At the time, it was mostly a niche sport, played by few and followed by even fewer. But things changed in the last couple of years, with the sport garnering mainstream intrigue, and Indian Javelin's own staggering growth is a testament to that. Today, the page has evolved into a strong Facebook community for enthusiasts of the sport, with over 106k followers. Of them, many are aspiring athletes and coaches, who have used the platform for better visibility with Musselman's concerted support behind them.

The former javelin thrower and coach from Peru frequently leverages the page to promote young athletes from the hinterlands of India, while also mobilising resources such as funds and coaches, who offer their guidance pro-bono. At the heart of this labour of love - that Musselman doesn't, by the way, make any money from - is a "childhood dream," he confides in us. "My father was a javelin thrower. As a child, I used to go with him to the ground every day. I started with throwing stones before I got my first javelin," he remembers.