Paris Olympics: Decoding the career achievements of India's Neeraj Chopra
India's Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal in men's javelin throw final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Chopra came into the 2024 Paris Olympics on the back of a gold medal win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem made history with a record throw of 92.97m. Peters Anderson of Grenada claimed the bronze. Here we decode Chopra's career achievements.
Chopra settles for silver in 2024 Paris Games
Chopra managed one valid throw out of six attempts. His 89.45m throw in the second attempt was enough to see him clinch silver. Nadeem, who started with a foul, clocked an Olympic record by throwing 92.97m. Nadeem also finished off in style, by clocking 91.97m. However, Chopra recorded his 2nd-best throw in his career. His personal best remains 89.94m in Diamond League, Stockholm.
Records made by Chopra with silver at 2024 Paris Olympics
Chopra joined Norman Pritchard to win two individual medals in athletics at the Olympics. Pritchard (British Indian) claimed two medals at the 1900 Paris Games. He won silver in men's 200m and men's 200m hurdles. Chopra became the 5th Indian individual with multiple medals at the Olympics after Pritchard, wrestler Sushil Kumar, shuttler PV Sindhu and shooter Manu Bhaker.
Chopra had won gold in 2020 Tokyo Games
In 2021 (Tokyo 2020 Games), Chopra became only the second Indian to clinch an individual gold medal at the Olympics after former shooter Abhinav Bindra. A throw of 87.58m in the men's javelin throw final helped Indian enter the record books. Notably, Chopra claimed Independent India's first medal in athletics.
His performance at the World Athletics Championships
Chopra clinched a historic gold medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest (Hungary). He became the only Indian athlete to win gold at the prestigious event. In 2022, Chopra secured the silver medal at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He became the second Indian to win a World Athletics Championships medal after long jumper Anju Bobby George (bronze in 2003).
Successive gold medals at the Diamond League
In August 2022, Chopra scripted history by winning the gold medal at the Lausanne Diamond League. He clocked a monster 89.08m throw. In May 2023, Chopra won the Doha Diamond League with a world-leading effort of 88.67m on his first attempt at the Qatar Sports Club. Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch came second with an effort of 88.63m.
Gold medal wins at the Asian Games
Chopra bagged a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, becoming the first Indian javelin thrower to win an Asian Games gold medal. He won India's second medal in javelin throw in Asian Games history after Gurtej Singh won bronze in 1982, New Delhi. In 2023, Chopra bagged a second successive gold at the Asian Games. He clocked a throw of 88.88m.
Gold medal winner at 2018 Commonwealth Games
In April 2018, Chopra became the first Indian to win a gold medal in men's javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games. He clocked an effort of 86.47m.
His performance at other events
Chopra won a gold medal at the 2017 Asian Championships held in Bhubaneshwar. Before that, he bagged gold at the 2016 South Asian Games in 2016, Guwahati. Notably, the year 2016 saw Chopra win gold at World Junior Championships. He won the silver medal before that at the Asian Junior Championships.
