The reigning Olympic gold medalist unleashed his spear with remarkable precision, reaching an impressive distance of 88.77m on his very first attempt.
India's star javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, secured his qualification for the Paris Olympics 2024 with an astounding performance at the World Athletics Championships 2023. Chopra showcased his exceptional skills during the qualification round held in Budapest, Hungary, delivering a season-best throw.
The reigning Olympic gold medalist unleashed his spear with remarkable precision, reaching an impressive distance of 88.77m on his very first attempt, surpassing the required qualifying mark of 85.50m for the Paris Games. In addition to his Olympic qualification, Chopra also secured his spot in the finals of the World Athletics Championships.
Notably, Neeraj Chopra came incredibly close to becoming India's first world champion in any athletics discipline at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon. However, he had to settle for a silver medal after finishing second to Anderson Peters from Grenada. Despite this, it was a historic moment for India as it marked their first-ever silver medal at the World Athletics Championships, following Anju Bobby George's bronze medal in the long jump in Paris back in 2003.
Following his impressive throw of 88.77m, Neeraj Chopra now ranks second in the men's javelin world leaders this season. He is currently trailing behind Jakub Vadlejch, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, who achieved a distance of 89.51m. It is worth noting that no one has surpassed the 90m mark this year, making it an opportune moment for Neeraj to potentially break this barrier in the final.
In addition to his victories at the Olympics, Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games, the 25-year-old Neeraj Chopra is also a Diamond League champion. However, the Indian javelin prodigy has yet to claim the top prize at the World Athletics Championships. Neeraj now sets his sights on that elusive gold medal, not only for his personal collection but also for his country. The 12-man final, scheduled for Sunday, presents a crucial opportunity for him to achieve this remarkable feat.
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