At the Paris Olympics 2024, Neeraj’s greatest throw of 89.45m earned him a silver medal, falling brief to his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, who clinched gold with a record-breaking 92.97m throw
Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra stays one of many world’s most interesting athletes, with an illustrious profession that features Olympic and World Championship gold medals. However, the query of whether or not he can breach the 90m mark in official competitions nonetheless looms giant.
Neeraj turned a nationwide hero after successful gold at the Tokyo Olympics and cemented his legacy with a World Championship gold and silver. Expectations had been excessive for him to defend his title at the Paris Olympics 2024. During the qualifiers, he recorded a season-best throw of 89.34m, securing a direct entry to the finals. However, within the finals, his greatest throw of 89.45m earned him a silver medal, falling brief to his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, who clinched gold with a record-breaking 92.97m throw.
Reflecting on the strain after Tokyo, Neeraj stated throughout an interview with Lallantop, “I don’t let past victories pressure me. I focus on what I can achieve today. A good mental and physical state is key to delivering big throws.”
Injury struggles, nonetheless, have hindered Neeraj’s progress. Speaking about his groin damage, he revealed within the interview, “Since 2018, I’ve felt capable of a big throw, but the pain has held me back. Despite consistency with 88m and 89m throws, the injury has stalled my career. Surgery might help, but it’s risky, and I’m focusing on strengthening the area instead.”
As he prepares for the brand new season, followers eagerly await the second when Neeraj Chopra breaks the 90m barrier—a milestone that might solidify his place among the many biggest javelin throwers of all time.