THE DESK NEWS: Live Updates on Neeraj Chopra’s Javelin Throw at the Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra is on the verge of making history. The celebrated figure in Indian athletics aspires to become only the fifth man in Olympic history to successfully defend his javelin throw gold medal. Following his groundbreaking throw of 87.58 meters at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, which secured him the gold, Neeraj has continued to excel in international competitions, clinching gold at the World Athletics Championships and subsequently at the Asian Games. The athletes who have previously defended the men’s javelin gold medals at the Olympics include Eric Lemming from Sweden (1908 and 1912), Jonni Myyra from Finland (1920 and 1924), Jan Zelezny from the Czech Republic (1992, 1996, and 2000), and Andreas Thorkildsen from Norway (2004 and 2008). Will Neeraj join this elite group? How Did Neeraj Perform in the Qualification Round? At 26 years of age, Neeraj was eager to make an impression. He delivered an impressive throw of 89.34 meters on his first attempt, surpassing the qualification mark of 84.00 meters by 5.34 meters. The caliber of competitors this time is superior to that of Tokyo, with nine throwers achieving the automatic qualification mark of 84 meters in Paris, compared to six in Tokyo. Among these nine, five secured their spots in the final round with their initial throws, leaving them with ample energy for the medal round. Neeraj is aware that the final will present a different challenge. “In the final, each athlete approaches with a unique mindset and circumstances. It will be a competitive event. Those who qualify automatically are typically the best prepared,” Neeraj remarked following his qualification. Only three Indian athletes have earned multiple Olympic medals: wrestler Sushil Kumar (silver and bronze), shuttler PV Sindhu (silver and bronze), and Manu Bhaker (two bronze medals). Two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada, with a personal best of 93.07 meters, is peaking at an opportune moment, while Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem is also performing well, suggesting that the final could be highly competitive. thedesknews.net
