Despite delivering the second-best throw of his career, Tokyo 2020 champion Neeraj Chopra had to settle for the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Chopra’s lone valid throw of 89.45 meters came on his second attempt, but it wasn’t enough to surpass Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who won gold with a record-breaking 92.97 meters.
“I’m not very happy with my performance,” Neeraj Chopra said after the event. He admitted that both his technique and run-up were subpar, leading to fouls on his other five attempts. “In javelin, if your run-up isn’t good, you can’t throw far,” he explained.
Neeraj Chopra also highlighted how frequent injuries have affected his preparations. “The last few years have been tough with constant injuries. I’ve tried hard, but I need to work on staying injury-free and improving my technique,” said the 26-year-old. His preparations were particularly disrupted by adductor muscle issues, which caused him to miss several meets.
Neeraj Chopra plans to consult doctors about his injury issues after the Paris Games. Despite his disappointment, he congratulated his rival and friend Arshad Nadeem, who achieved Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold and the country’s first medal since Barcelona 1992. “The competition was great. Arshad threw really well. Congratulations to him and his country,” Chopra said.
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