Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and India's superstar, Neeraj Chopra sealed his place in the javelin throw final at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Budapest on August 25 (Friday). Chopra, along with DP Manu and Kishore Jena, will be seen competing for a podium finish on August 27 (Sunday). Chopra is likely to face tough competition from Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion.
While Chopra is still searching for an elusive 90-meter throw, Nadeem breached the mark during the Commonwealth Games. The Indian javelin thrower booked his place in the final of the World Championships with an 88.77-meter season-best throw while Nadeem claimed the second-best position during qualifying rounds with a throw of 86.79 meters.
Ahead of the much-anticipated final, Nadeem voiced a beautiful message for Chopra and wished for the Indian athlete's success in the event.
"Best of luck to Neeraj. Neeraj bhai, aap bhi aachha karen, hum bhi accha karen. Aapka naam hai world me, hamara bhi naam aye (Neeraj brother, you also do well, and I hope I also do well. You have a name in the world. I hope I also get my name in the world," Arshad said, as quoted by Sportstar.
With the reigning World Champion Anderson Peters failing to qualify for the final, Chopra has a golden opportunity to bag an elusive gold at the World Championships. The Indian superstar is likely to face a stiff challenge from Pakistan's Nadeem, Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch and Germany's Julian Weber.
Chopra, Nadeem and Vadlejch came up with their season-best throws during the qualifying rounds.
Javelin throw final line-up for World Athletics Championships:
Neeraj Chopra (IND) - 88.77m SB
Arshad Nadeem (PAK) - 86.79m SB
Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) - 83.50m SB
Julian Weber (GER) - 82.39m
Edis Matusevicius (LTU) - 82.35m
DP Manu (IND) - 81.31m
Dawid Wegner (POL) - 81.25m
Ihab Abdelrehman (EGY) - 80.75m
Kishore Jena (IND) - 80.55m
Oliver Helander (FIN) - 80.19m
Timothy Herman (BEL) - 80.11m
Andrian Mardare (MDA) - 79.78m
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