New Delhi: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra took his first highest podium finish of the season by winning the javelin throw at the Kuortane Games in Finland, beating Grenada’s reigning world champion Anderson Peters for the second time in four days on Saturday.
The opening throw of 24-year-old Chopra of 86.69m turned out to be the winning distance. Trinidad and Tobago’s 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott came in second with a first round throw of 86.64m. Peters was third with a best throw of 84.75m, which also came in the opening round.
Chopra’s second and third attempts were fouls and he made only three throws. That meant Chopra had one legal pitch and won the competition. His throw wasn’t quite as big as the 89.30m effort as he finished second in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, in a star-studded field, but the win will certainly boost his confidence for the Stockholm Diamond League on June 30 .
Finnish Oliver Helander, who won the javelin competition in Turku with an effort of 89.83 m, did not show up despite his name being entered.
Reigning Asian and world javelin champion Sandeep Chaudhary, who was also training at the Kuortane Olympic Training Center along with Chopra, also took part in the competition, finishing eighth with a best throw of 60.35m.
Peters is leading the charts this season with his monster throw of 93.07m while winning gold in the Doha Diamond League last month. Chopra’s 89.30m effort in Turku ranks fifth on the season.
Chopra made a spectacular return to competition after taking his historic gold at the Tokyo Olympics with a stunning 89.30m throw, shattering his own national record, taking second in a star-studded field at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on Tuesday.
Chopra’s first competitive event after just over 10 months was nothing short of extraordinary as he nearly reached the coveted 90m, considered the gold standard in the world of javelin throwing.
Chopra’s previous national record was 88.07 meters, which he set in March of last year in Patiala. He had won gold at the Tokyo Olympics on August 7, 2021 with a throw of 87.58 meters.
minister of the Union Anurag Thakuro tweeted and congratulated him on his big win.
Thakur wrote: “Gold to Neeraj! He has done it again, what an incredible champion!”
Best throw of 86.69m in his 1st attempt at the #KuortaneGames2022 @Neeraj_chopra1 takes first place and wins his 1st of the season, he added.
Fans also tweeted, congratulating Chopra on his new record.
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