In just 10 seconds, Neeraj Chopra showcased his prowess with a massive 89.43m throw in the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics, dominating the field and securing the top spot. His throw was both a season-best and the second-best of his career, setting him up as a strong contender to defend his javelin title. However, in a stunning upset, Chopra was bested by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who broke the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m. Nadeem’s performance was historic, surpassing Andreas Thorkildsen’s 90.57m record from the 2008 Beijing Games.
Despite a new season-best throw of 89.45m in the second round, Chopra could not match Nadeem’s distance. Nadeem further extended his lead with a 91.79m throw in his final attempt, almost breaking his own Olympic record. Chopra, who struggled with a nagging adductor injury, managed just one legal throw and ended up with silver.
After the final, Chopra congratulated Nadeem and reflected on his first defeat to the Pakistani athlete in eight years. “I have been competing against Arshad since 2016, but this is the first time I have lost to him. Credit where credit is due, Arshad worked really hard, and he was better tonight. Congratulations to him,” Chopra said.
Despite falling short of gold, Chopra made history by winning India’s first silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He became the fifth athlete to win two medals at the Games, joining the ranks of Norman Pritchard, Sushil Kumar, PV Sindhu, and Manu Bhaker, and is the first to secure back-to-back medals in track and field.
Chopra also revealed that his performance was affected by concerns over his injury, which contributed to five of his six foul throws. He remains determined to return stronger and achieve greater heights. “Whenever I throw, 60-70 percent of my focus is on avoiding injury. My runway and speed were not ideal today. I’ve pushed myself despite the issue. There’s a lot left in me, and I need to achieve that. I won’t be at peace until I do,” he vowed.
