Neeraj Chopra Eyes Historic Victory in Men’s Javelin Final at Paris Olympics

Paris, 7th August 2024: Neeraj Chopra’s impressive 89.34m throw in the qualification round made a strong statement, but a formidable challenge awaits the defending champion as he aims for another historic victory in the men’s javelin final at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. While Chopra’s opening throw in the qualification round mirrored his performance at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, the competition this time is tougher. In Paris, nine throwers exceeded the automatic qualification mark of 84m, compared to six in Tokyo. Five of these throwers qualified for the final with their first attempts, indicating they have reserves for the final round.

At 26, Chopra is well-acquainted with the global circuit, having competed for over eight years. He acknowledged the high level of competition, stating, “In the final, everyone will have different mindsets and situations. It will be a strong competition. Those who qualify automatically are well-prepared.”

Chopra is keen to return to the Games Village to rest and prepare for the final, where significant stakes are involved. A gold medal would make him only the fifth man in Olympic javelin history to defend the title. The other four are Eric Lemming (Sweden; 1908 and 1912), Jonni Myyra (Finland; 1920 and 1924), Jan Zelezny (Czech Republic; 1992, 1996, and 2000), and Andreas Thorkildsen (Norway; 2004 and 2008).

If Chopra secures a medal, he will become the most decorated Indian in individual Olympic sports. Currently, PV Sindhu (one silver, one bronze), wrestler Sushil Kumar (one silver, one bronze), and shooter Manu Bhaker (two bronze) each have two Olympic medals since Independence.

Chopra’s 89.34m throw, the second-best of his career, also alleviated concerns about his fitness after he revealed an adductor injury leading up to the Games. His personal best remains 89.94m, achieved in 2022. The throw was the second-best Olympic qualifying mark, just shy of Jan Zelezny’s 89.39m from the 2000 Sydney Games.

However, Chopra must be cautious of emerging threats. Grenada’s two-time world champion Anderson Peters, who has a personal best of 93.07m, and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who recently showed strong form, pose significant competition. Peters, who was injured in a violent incident in Grenada after his silver medal win at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, has surpassed 90m four times in his career. Nadeem, though he has not beaten Chopra in their 10 meetings since 2016, is known for his unpredictability and has previously achieved notable throws.

Additionally, Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, who won silver at the Tokyo Olympics and defeated Chopra at the Doha Diamond League in May, could also challenge for the top spots.

Conditions on Thursday’s final are expected to differ from the qualification round, with cooler temperatures anticipated in the evening.