After nearly two weeks of intense competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, India finally broke its streak of bronze medals with Neeraj Chopra’s stellar performance in the javelin throw.
Although Chopra couldn’t defend his gold medal from Tokyo, he secured India’s first silver of the Games, reaffirming his status as the face of Indian athletics.
His best throw of the day, a season-best 89.45 meters on his second attempt, marked his only valid effort.
Despite this impressive achievement, it wasn’t enough to surpass Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who claimed the gold with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters.
Chopra’s accomplishment is significant not only for the medal but for the history it represents. He became only the second Indian male athlete to win multiple Olympic medals, joining wrestler Sushil Kumar in this elite category.
Despite being widely regarded as India’s top hope for a gold in Paris, Chopra faced a tough field, including competitors like Julian Weber, Anderson Peters, and Arshad Nadeem.
The competition began on a dramatic note, with Chopra, Nadeem, and Weber all committing fouls on their first attempts. Nadeem, who initially struggled, quickly found his rhythm and unleashed a throw that crossed the 90-meter mark, setting a high bar for the others.
Chopra managed to register a valid throw on his second attempt but fouled again on his third, disrupting his momentum.
As the event moved into the fourth round, only eight athletes remained, including formidable opponents like Jakub Vadlejch and Julius Yego. Anderson Peters briefly took the lead with an 88.54-meter throw, overtaking Vadlejch.
Chopra, eager to improve his standing, fouled once more, missing an opportunity to close the gap on Nadeem, who maintained his lead with a cautious throw in the fourth round.
The tension heightened in the fifth round as competitors like Lassi Etelatalo and Keshorn Walcott failed to improve their standings, while Weber’s 87.40-meter throw, though impressive, wasn’t enough to break into the top three.
Yego’s 83.20-meter effort kept him in fourth place, and Peters solidified his third-place position. Vadlejch couldn’t surpass the 85-meter mark, securing a medal for Chopra. In his fifth attempt, Chopra fouled again, adding to the mounting pressure.
In the final round, Chopra had one last chance to challenge Nadeem for the gold, but another foul ended his campaign with silver.
Nadeem, already assured of the gold, capped off his victory with a massive 91.79-meter throw, leaving a lasting impression on the Paris Olympics and solidifying his place at the top of the podium.