Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra storms into men's javelin throw final

Paris Olympics 2024: Defending champion Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the Olympic men's javelin throw finals with the season's best effort of 89.34m. He achieved the distance in the very first throw.

Neeraj Chopra delivered an exceptional performance during the Group B qualification round at the Stade de France on Monday, achieving his best throw ever in a global championship. His throw, measured at an impressive distance, is second only to his personal best of 89.94 meters set at the Stockholm Diamond League. 

Fierce competition awaits in final

The final promises to be a thrilling event, with Neeraj Chopra facing tough competition from his Czech rival, Jakub Vadlejch, who boasts a personal best of 99.88 meters. Vadlejch, like Chopra, secured his spot in the final with a single throw, reaching 85.63 meters. Germany's Julian Weber also qualified with an impressive throw of 87.78 meters.

Neeraj Chopra: Favorite for gold

It is rare for an Indian athlete to be a favorite for gold in track and field, but Chopra’s ability to peak at crucial moments sets him apart. The reigning world champion's knack for delivering top performances when it matters most makes him a formidable contender.

Other notable qualifiers

Pakistan’s Nadeem Arshad, who was in Group B with Chopra, also achieved automatic qualification with a season's best throw of 86.59 meters. Grenada’s Anderson Peters joined the finalists with his season’s best throw of 88.63 meters. This qualification round stands out for its high quality, with five finalists achieving their season’s best throws.

Challenges for team India

India experienced a challenging day at the Olympics, with several near misses. Lakshya Sen narrowly missed a bronze medal, the mixed skeet shooting team of Ananjeet Singh Naruka and Maheshwari Chauhan lost in a bronze medal playoff, and wrestler Nisha Dahiya suffered an injury that led to her defeat in the 68kg quarterfinal bout.