Neeraj Chopra’s Father Reacts to Silver Medal Win:
On the 13th day of the Paris Olympics 2024, a new chapter was added to the history of javelin throw. India’s top hope for gold, Neeraj Chopra, won the silver medal in the javelin throw with his season-best throw of 89.45 meters. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won gold with a new Olympic record of 92.97 meters. On August 6, Neeraj started the Paris Olympics with a great throw. The qualification standard for the finals was set at 84 meters, but Neeraj easily passed this mark with a throw of 89.34 meters in his first attempt during Group B qualification.
Neeraj Chopra’s Father’s Comments on the Result:
Neeraj Chopra’s father, Satish Kumar, expressed pride in his son’s performance. He said, “Everyone has their day, and today was Pakistan’s day. But we won the silver medal, and that is a proud moment for us. I think his injury also played a role in his performance.” Satish Kumar believes that Neeraj’s success will inspire future generations. “A big screen was set up in Neeraj’s neighborhood for people to watch his performance in Paris. Many people came to watch, and after his victory, they distributed sweets and celebrated with fireworks. It was a celebration of India’s first silver medal in the Paris Olympics and our fifth overall medal.”
Neeraj Chopra made history by winning the silver medal in the javelin throw final. However, in one of the biggest sporting events, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a huge throw, breaking the record in front of a large crowd. Neeraj achieved his season-best throw of 89.45 meters, but it was not enough to match Arshad’s 92.97 meters.
Injuries Before the Olympics:
Before the Paris Olympics, Neeraj struggled with injuries. He had a back injury in 2023, which kept him out of the Commonwealth Games. This injury came back in early May, causing issues with his adductor. To defend his gold medal from Tokyo, Neeraj needed to surpass the 90-meter mark. Arshad Nadeem surprised everyone with his Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters, which pushed Neeraj to perform his best.
Though Neeraj struggled to regain his form and only one of his six attempts was successful, it was his season-best throw. Arshad Nadeem delivered one of the best performances in Olympic history, sending his javelin beyond the 90-meter mark and breaking the Olympic record with a throw of 91.79 meters to win the gold medal.
