CWG 2018: Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra qualifies for finals
Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Friday qualified for the finals of his event at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia after achieving the qualifying mark in just his first throw to finish second in his group. Chopra threw the javelin to 80.42m to achieve the mark in his first attempt. Joining Chopra in the men's javelin thrown finals was Vipin Kasana.
I was happy with my throw of 80.42 meters: Chopra
The effort left him fourth overall in a field where seven of the 12 qualifiers achieved the mark set for the finals. "I was happy with my (only) throw of 80.42 (meters) when the automatic qualifying was set at 78mm," the 20-year-old said.
Spent the past 25 days training with my coach: Chopra
"I have spent the past 25 days training with my coach Uwe Hohn (Germany). This year he has been coaching in India and I will be training in Germany in three months," the javelin thrower said. It is to be noted that Australian Kathryn Mitchell also trains with Hohn. She won a silver in the event on April 11.
Kasana also needed just one throw to make the finals.
"She had a very good performance with a Games record (in the women's javelin throw). Australia must be very happy," Chopra said of Kathryn Mitchell. Like his junior teammate, Kasana also needed just one throw (78.88) to make the finals.
