Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra showcased his prowess in the World Athletics Championships on Friday, securing a berth in the finals with an impressive javelin throw spanning 88.77m. This achievement not only guaranteed his presence in the finals but also stamped his qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics. This remarkable feat represented Neeraj Chopra\’s season\’s best and stood as the fourth-strongest performance of his career.
Neeraj Chopra\’s extraordinary throw also directly secured his participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where a minimum distance of 85.50m is requisite for qualification. However, adhering to the Olympic entry criteria forms just one part of the selection process. Ultimately, the decision regarding an athlete\’s inclusion in the National Olympic Committee (NOC) team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games rests with the NOC.
In the initial round of the javelin throw, only Julian Webber from Germany (82.39m) managed to surpass the 80-meter benchmark among the competitors.
Renowned for his exceptional performance at the Tokyo Olympics, Neeraj Chopra secured the second position in the preceding edition of the World Athletics Championships, narrowly missing out on the gold. This year, Anderson Peters, who had previously outperformed Chopra, experienced lackluster performance in the qualification A round, recording a throw of 78.49m over three attempts.
Emerging as a bright prospect in Javelin Throw, DP Manu from India achieved his personal best by covering a distance of 81.31 meters, securing the third position just behind Julian Webber. DP Manu also holds a promising prospect of progressing to the finals of the World Athletics Championships, unless nine other athletes outperform him during qualification B.
Surmounting Challenging Atmospheric Conditions
Neeraj Chopra\’s remarkable throw gains prominence, particularly when considering the challenging atmospheric conditions characterized by dense air and unpredictable crosswinds that hampered the participants\’ throws. These conditions posed challenges in achieving extended javelin distances.
Neeraj Chopra is firmly focused on clinching a gold medal this year—a goal that appears attainable given his illustrious track record. He proudly holds gold medals from both the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, coupled with his victory as a Diamond League champion and his memorable gold medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics.
