Neeraj Chopra, India’s reigning Olympic and world champion in javelin throw, has made a resounding start to his Paris Olympics campaign by topping the qualification round with a season’s best throw of 89.34m. This is the second consecutive Olympics where Chopra has finished first in the qualification.
Chopra’s throw was a statement of intent, sending a clear message to his rivals that he is in top form and ready to defend his Olympic title. The qualification standard was set at 84.00m, and Chopra’s throw was well above that mark.
The other Indian in the fray, Kishore Jena, could not make the 12-man final, with his best attempt being 80.73m. The qualification round was highly competitive, with five of the 12 finalists posting their season’s best throws.
Chopra’s main rivals include Czech Jakub Vadlejch, who has a personal best of 90.88m, and Germany’s Julian Weber, who threw 87.76m in the qualification. Pakistan’s Nadeem Arshad, who was placed in the same group as Chopra, also managed an automatic qualification with a season’s best throw of 86.59m.
Chopra’s ability to switch gears and touch peak performance at the biggest events is what makes him truly extraordinary. He is a rare Indian athlete who is a favorite for gold in a track and field event.
“The mindset and situation of a qualification and final are completely different. You have to just focus on the fact that you’ve had a good start and now you put in your best preparation towards the final,” Chopra said after the qualification.
Chopra said his adductor is feeling better after he pulled out of the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in Czechia last month as a precautionary measure. He is confident that he will be fully prepared for the final, which will be held in the evening session.
Chopra’s friend and on-field rival Weber spoke of spending time together with the Indian at the Games Village. “We talked a lot. He’s calm, and in good shape,” Weber said.
In Paris, Chopra is bidding to do what no Indian athlete has ever done before – win two successive Olympic gold medals. India so far has only three medals to show from this edition of the Games – all of them bronze – with curtains coming down on the Olympics in less than a week’s time.
