India’s ace javelin thrower and 2020 Olympic Games gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has revealed that while he missed the 90-meter mark in the Stockholm Diamond League 2022 in Sweden on Thursday, the fact that it was his best throw ever gave him a really nice feeling.
Neeraj Chopra’s winning throw of 86.48m at the junior championships in Poland also set the new under-20 world record, beating the 84.69m mark established by the previous holder, Latvia’s Zigismunds Sirmais. The 24-year-old fell just six centimeters short of the elusive 90-meter mark but he bettered his personal best of 89.30m, set earlier this month at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland.
Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal win at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, was a milestone moment in the future Olympic champion’s career. Neeraj became the first Indian to bag gold at World Championships.
Neeraj Chopra is the first track and field athlete from India to win Olympic gold. Neeraj achieved this at the Tokyo Olympics last year. Neeraj Chopra finished second in the Diamond League with a throw of 89.94m. World champion Anderson Peters of Grenada broke the 16-year-old meet record with a huge 90.31m throw in his third attempt.
It felt amazing to be back on the Diamond League circuit and even better to get a new PB!
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) June 30, 2022
All the throwers put up a great show tonight for the crowd in Stockholm!
Next stop ➡️ Representing 🇮🇳 at the World Championships in Eugene pic.twitter.com/OpiXyrp4wv
Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra smashed his own national record with a throw of 89.94m in the Stockholm Diamond League. A day after the record feat, in a conversation with JSW Sports, Chopra, who was taking part in his first Diamond League event since 2018, said, “It’s feeling very nice (to win silver). There was no such thing in my mind that I have to do it (aim for a giant throw) in my first attempt itself. I just kept my mindset positive.
“The only thing I had in my mind was to play well and put in my best effort, that’s all. The first throw was very nice, just that I missed the 90m mark. Initially, I thought I had done 90m but it was not to be. But since it’s my best throw, the feeling is really nice,” said Chopra, who will be heading to Oregon, the USA for the World Championships from July 15.
There will be expectations from Chopra to win gold at the Worlds in Oregon and earn India’s second medal ever in the prestigious event. Former India long jumper Anju Bobby George is the only athlete to win a medal at the Worlds when she clinched bronze in Paris in 2003. However, Chopra said there was no pressure on him, adding that he will put in his best effort.
“There is no such pressure that we have just one medal at the Worlds. I will put in my best effort, this is my job and this is what I am going to do. I haven’t thought anything other than that. Right now, there is no pressure whatsoever. But it all depends on what mindset I have in Oregon on the day of the competition,” he added.
So down to earth this person @Neeraj_chopra1 ❣️Took blessing from an elderly fan. That speaks volumes. Love you ❤️ pic.twitter.com/jjo9OxHABt
— Your ❤️ (@ijnani) June 30, 2022
A video that is currently going viral shows Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra taking blessings from an elderly fan. Uploaded by a Twitter user, the video shows Neeraj Chopra with his fans, who are taking pictures with him. Very politely, he can be heard saying, “Thank you.” After this, he shakes hands with people as he bids goodbye and bows for an elderly man to take his blessings.
