India's javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra scripted history with coveted silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. Tokyo Olympics gold-medallist Neeraj produced a season-best throw of 89.45 metres on his second attempt in the men's javelin final on August 9.
Neeraj Chopra brings first silver for India in Paris Olympics
With this India have won its fifth medal in the ongoing Paris Olympics. He became the first Indian track and field athlete to claim two medals after independence. Neeraj has also become the fourth Indian after independence to win double medal in Olympics after PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker and Sushil Kumar.
Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem turned heads by break Olympic record with his monstrous throw of 92.97m. Nadeem's incredible feat shattered the previous Olympic record of 90.57m held by Andreas Thorkildsen since the 2008 Beijing Games. Meanwhile, Grenada’s Anderson Peters won bronze medal with 88.54m throw.
Neeraj Chopra misses shot at gold
Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, entered the final with high expectations after securing a comfortable qualification with a throw of 89.34 metres. However, the Indian star faced an early setback with a foul on his first attempt. managing only one legal throw amidst five fouls. The pressure intensified after Arshad Nadeem's record-breaking performance, which put immense pressure on the Indian star. The competition took an unexpected turn when Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem shattered the Olympic record with a phenomenal throw of 92.97m. Nadeem's extraordinary achievement overshadowed the rest of the field, including Chopra. Despite the pressure, Chopra managed a season-best throw of 89.45m on his second attempt. Nadeem continued to impress, registering another impressive throw of 91.79m, solidifying his dominance in the event.
Earlier, the defending Olympic champion, Neeraj entered the javelin final with high expectations after topping the qualification round with a strong throw of 89.34 meters. However, the final proved to be a fierce battle against formidable opponents like Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, Grenada's Anderson Peters, and Germany's Julian Weber. Despite facing stiff competition, Neeraj managed to secure a silver medal with his best throw of the day, an impressive 89.45 meters. While falling short of defending his gold title, Chopra's silver medal remains a significant achievement, adding to India's growing stature in global athletics.
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