It was August 7, 2021, when the country was introduced to the Javelin-throw star Neeraj Chopra. The Haryana-born took the country by storm after winning Olympic Gold in the Javelin throw at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. With a throw of 87.58 m, the 24-year-old thwarted international competition and got his name into the history books. What followed was immense popularity, the likes of which have rarely been seen by a non-cricket athlete in India.
The Javelin star and gone out and broken another record in the ongoing Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland. At this time the 24-year-old has reached a spectacular distance of 89.30 m with his Javelin. The new length goes past the earlier national record of 88.07 held by the star himself.
Talking of his throw, Chopra started off with an impressive 86.92m throw on Tuesday. In the very next throw, the Indian Army Subedar surpassed the 89m mark to land his javelin at a staggering distance of 89.30m. His second throw broke his earlier held national record of 88.07 set in March last year at Patiala. The next three attempts of the star Javelin thrower were fouls with the last resulting in an 85.85m. The Indian star was unable to breach the coveted distance of 90m and remained sigh of it by just 0.70m.
With his longest throw, the Indian athlete could only claim the second position at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku. The Gold was won by 25-year-old Oliver Helander from Finland with a throw of 89.83 m. The current world champion Anderson Peters who threw a monster 93.07m on road to winning the Doha Diamond League, was third here with an 86.03m throw.
Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra settles for a Silver Medal with a New National Record Throw of 89.30m at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland.@afi We can see several performance hikes in various events this season. Hope for more further. @Adille1 @Media_SAI @SPORTINGINDIAtw pic.twitter.com/cBLg4Ke8nh
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) June 14, 2022
The Athletics Federation of India was quick to tweet in praise of the athlete. The tweet was expectant of good performances and wrote, "We can see several performance hikes in various events this season. Hope for more further."