The golden boy Neeraj Chopra emerged victorious in the mens javelin final at the 27th Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships held at Bhubaneshwars Kalinga Stadium on May 15. Despite facing stiff competition from DP Manu, Neeraj secured the coveted gold medal with an impressive throw of 82.27m, marking a triumphant return to the competition circuit in India since his Olympic triumph in Tokyo 2021.Neerajs gold-winning effort came in his final attempt of the day. Though he opted not to complete his last two throws, Neerajs stellar performance secured him the top spot on the podium.#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | Ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra wins gold in mens javelin throw at Federation Cup 2024 with a throw of 82.27m(Visuals from the Federation Cup 2024 in Bhubaneswar) pic.twitter.com/92MeuCCyD7— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 20240After his standout performance, Neeraj Chopra was seen engaging in a conversation with his coach, reflecting on his achievement. He noted the challenging humid conditions in Bhubaneshwar but expressed joy in participating in a home competition after a considerable hiatus.DP Manus silver liningDP Manu, an Asian Athletics Championships medalist, put up a commendable fight, clinching the silver medal with a best effort of 82.06m. Despite leading until the third round, Manu fell short of breaching the Olympic qualifying mark, concluding the event with a strong performance nevertheless.Jenas performance falls shortIn contrast, Kishore Jena hailed as a local hero and holder of an Asian Games silver medal, failed to match his previous personal best, concluding with a top effort of 75.49m. Despite his prior qualification for the Paris Olympics achieved with an impressive 87.54m throw at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, Jena struggled to replicate his success. During the event, he only managed three valid throws, surpassing the 75m mark merely twice in front of his supportive home crowd.Neeraj Chopras participation in the Federation Cup on home ground served as a remarkable spectacle, motivating his fellow competitors to perform their utmost. In a touching gesture of camaraderie, all the other throwers gathered around Neeraj at the competitions conclusion, capturing a memorable photograph together. Despite recognizing that he wasnt at his peak performance, Neeraj displayed joy and satisfaction witnessing the spirited competition in his homeland.
