Neeraj Chopra is through to Paris Olympics 2024, after qualifying for the Javelin Throw final in the World Athletics Championship with a throw of 88.77 in the first attempt. On Friday, August 25, India’s star javelin thrower, was in action in the qualifying round at the World Athletics Championships 2023, Budapest, Hungary.
Neeraj Chopra has brought numerous glories to India, including an maiden Olympics Gold medal in Javelin. At the 2022 World Athletics Championship in Oregon, Neeraj came close to clinching the gold, but had to settle for a silver, finishing behind Grenada’s Anderson Peters. The World No 1 men’s javelin thrower in the World Athletics rankings currently, will surely be eyeing the gold this year.
It was, however, India’s first-ever silver medal at the World Athletics Championships and the country’s second medal at the global showpiece after Anju Bobby George’s long jump bronze at Paris in 2003.
Last year, on August 26, Neeraj became the first Indian to win the Lausanne Diamond League with a massive throw of 89.08 metres and qualified for the Diamond League final. Later, he went on to win the Diamond League.
Neeraj has already won gold at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He is also the Diamond League champion. However, he has yet to win a top prize in the World Championships. Last year, he came really close to clinching the gold last year but had to settle for a silver, coming behind Grenada’s Anderson Peters.
In addition to Neeraj, Manu DP and Kishore Jena are also representing India at the Championship in the Javelin Men’s Qualifying round.