Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, has effortlessly qualified for the javelin throw final at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. With a season’s best throw of 89.34 meters in his first attempt, Chopra sent a clear message to his rivals.
The qualification standard was set at 84.00 meters, and Chopra’s throw was well above that mark. The other Indian in the fray, Kishore Jena, could not make the final, with his best attempt being 80.73 meters.
The final promises to be a thrilling affair, with Chopra’s Czech rival Jakub Valdech, who has a personal best of 99.88 meters, also in the mix. Valdech, like Chopra, needed only one throw to qualify, registering a distance of 85.63 meters. Germany’s Julian Weber also impressed with an 87.78-meter attempt.
Chopra’s ability to perform at his peak during major events sets him apart. He is a rare Indian athlete who is a favorite for gold in a track and field event. Pakistan’s Nadeem Arshad and Grenada’s Anderson Peters also qualified automatically with season’s best throws of 86.59 meters and 88.63 meters, respectively.
The qualification round was of exceptional quality, with five of the finalists posting their season’s best throws. India’s qualification comes after a disappointing day at the Games, with Lakshya Sen missing out on a bronze medal in badminton, the mixed skeet shooters team losing a bronze medal playoff, and wrestler Nisha Dahiya suffering an injury and losing her quarterfinal bout.
