Neeraj Chopra, India’s golden boy of javelin, narrowly missed out on the gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, settling for silver despite a season-best throw of 89.45m. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem stole the show with a mammoth 92.97m throw, breaking the Olympic record and leaving Chopra in his wake.
Chopra’s best effort came on his second attempt, but his subsequent four throws were all fouls. Experts believe that Chopra’s eagerness to surpass Nadeem’s record may have contributed to his fouls.
“When Nadeem threw 92.97 meters, there was pressure on Neeraj,” said three-time Paralympic medalist Devendra Jhajharia. “He wanted to throw over 93 meters and put in extra effort, which resulted in four fouls.”
Despite the setback, Chopra remains a force to be reckoned with. He won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and is determined to complete a sensational hat-trick of medals at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“Neeraj is very passionate about javelin,” added Jhajharia. “He is so focused and humble. I am sure he will make a hat-trick of Olympic medals in Los Angeles.”
Chopra’s silver medal in Paris is a testament to his resilience and determination. He will undoubtedly be a contender for gold in Los Angeles, where he will aim to cement his legacy as one of the greatest javelin throwers of all time.
