Neeraj Chopra Tops Men’s Javelin Qualification at Paris Olympics, Ready to Defend Gold

Neeraj Chopra Tops Men’s Javelin Qualification at Paris Olympics, Ready to Defend Gold

Defending Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra showcased his prowess in the men’s javelin throw qualification at the Paris Olympics, achieving a remarkable throw of 89.34m at the Stade de France on Tuesday. This impressive performance secured him the top spot in the qualification round across both groups, setting the stage for his title defense in style.

Neeraj, who won the gold medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 87.58m, made history as the first Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal in a track and field event. Reflecting on his qualification round, Neeraj emphasized the difference between the mindset required for the qualification and the final.

“This is just the qualification round; the mindset and the situation in the final are different. I should focus on the preparations for the final after getting a good start,” Neeraj told reporters.

The 26-year-old acknowledged the tough competition he will face in the final from athletes who met the automatic qualification mark of 84m. However, he remains confident and focused, stating he has saved his best for the medal event.

“I’m saving the best for the final and focusing on it. I’m ready for the final. I was not doing well here in practice, but when the qualification started, I aimed to qualify in the first throw. My fitness is better now, and I warmed up well before taking the first attempt,” Neeraj said.

Among those who qualified for the final with Neeraj were Grenada’s Anderson Peters (88.63m), Julian Weber of Germany (87.76m), Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan (86.59m), and Julius Yego of Kenya (85.97m), rounding out the top five qualifiers.

Discussing his approach, Neeraj mentioned his strategy of aiming to perform his best from the first throw. “I try to do well from the first throw itself, but it doesn’t happen every time. If I fail to get the best out of the first throw, then I try to do my best in every throw,” he explained.

Regarding his previous adductor injury, Neeraj assured he is feeling better and taking necessary precautions. “I’m feeling better and taking all the precautions with a proper warm-up before the throw,” he said.

Unfortunately, India’s Kishore Kumar Jena, who competed in Group A, did not reach the final, with his best effort being 80.73m in his first attempt. His second throw was a foul, followed by an 80.21m throw in his third attempt.

As the reigning world and Asian champion, Neeraj Chopra aims to make history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win two individual gold medals at the Olympics. The final is set for Thursday, August 8, where Neeraj will compete to defend his title and add another gold to his illustrious career.