Watch: Neeraj Chopra breaks his own national record and touches almost 90 meters
India’s Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra set a new national record and finished with a silver medal at the Pavo Nurmi Games in Finland with a throw of 89.30m, bettering his previous national record of 88.07m which he set in March last year. Made in Patiala. , This was Chopra’s first outing in an international competition since the historic gold medal-winning throw of 87.58m at the Tokyo Olympics on August 7, 2021.
In the 89.30m throw he finished second on the podium at the Pavo Nurmi Games behind Finnish favorite Oliver Helender, who achieved a personal best of 89.93m. Meanwhile, world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada finished third with a throw of 86.60m.
Chopra’s first competitive event after ten months became a historic moment as the athlete nearly touched the coveted 90-meter mark; Which is considered the gold standard in the world of javelin throw.
Here’s a look at Neeraj Chopra’s incredible throwback in Finland…
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra won silver at the Pavo Nurmi Games in Finland with a new national record throw of 89.30m. Looking forward to more. @Adille1 @Media_SAI @SPORTINGINDIAtw pic.twitter.com/cBLg4Ke8nh
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) June 14, 2022
With an opening throw of 86.92m, Chopra’s next throw was a mammoth of 89.30m. Although his next three attempts were unsuccessful, he made two throws of 85.85m in his sixth and final attempt.
Meanwhile, Chopra’s 89.30m javelin throw has propelled him to fifth on the list of world season leaders. The Pavo Nurmi Games, a gold event in the World Athletics Continental Tour, are one of the largest track-and-field competitions outside the Diamond League.
After creating history at the Pavo Nurmi Games in Finland, Neeraj Chopra will attend the Kuorten Games in Finland before moving to Sweden for the Stockholm stage of the Diamond League.
(with ANI inputs)