Neeraj Chopra Gets Silver For Javelin Throw

PARIS (ANI/IANS) – Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin sensation, fell short of clinching a second consecutive Olympic gold, settling for silver in the men’s javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics.

Chopra’s best throw of 89.45 meters, his second-best effort ever, was not enough to outshine Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who claimed the gold with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters.

Entering the final as the favorite, Chopra had impressed with an 89.34-meter throw in the qualifiers. However, his Tokyo gold medal throw of 87.58 meters was surpassed, highlighting the intense competition. Chopra started the final with a foul, followed by his best throw on the second attempt. Despite this strong performance, four subsequent fouls dashed his gold medal hopes.

Nadeem’s historic throw not only set a new Olympic record but also secured Pakistan’s first-ever individual Olympic gold medal. The competition saw Nadeem making impressive throws, including another over 90 meters, solidifying his top spot. Anderson Peters of Grenada took the bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters.

Chopra’s silver marks a significant achievement for India, making him the second male and third overall Indian to win back-to-back Olympic medals, following wrestler Sushil Kumar and badminton star PV Sindhu. India’s tally at the Paris Olympics now stands at five medals: one silver and four bronzes.

Chopra’s journey has been marred by injuries over the past few years, impacting his performance. The high expectations made the silver seem like a letdown, but the athlete remains a beacon of hope for India. The competition’s intensity was evident as Julien Weber of Germany, the Tokyo silver medalist, finished sixth.

Chopra acknowledged Nadeem’s stellar performance, stating, “Today was Arshad’s day. I gave my best, but some things need to be addressed and worked on.” The 26-year-old from Haryana plans to reassess and focus on future improvements.

Nadeem’s victory ends Pakistan’s 32-year Olympic medal drought, with their last gold won in hockey in 1984. His throw is the sixth-best in javelin throw history and broke Andreas Thorkildsen’s 2008 Olympic record of 90.57 meters.

Chopra’s performance in numbers:

Best throw: 89.45 meters

Number of fouls: Four

Olympic record by Nadeem: 92.97 meters