India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra received a warm and enthusiastic welcome at the Sports University of Haryana in Sonipat's Rai following his recent achievements, including a silver medal at the Paris Olympics and an impressive performance in the Diamond League final.
Despite consistently reaching impressive distances, Neeraj is still chasing the elusive 90m mark, but he remains patient. When asked about it, he told with a smile, "There is time for that, no worries." The 26-year-old believes that the 90m mark will come with time and isn't concerned about hitting it right away.
Neeraj recently sustained an injury during practice, which led to a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand. As a result, he will be sidelined for the rest of the year. However, Neeraj remains optimistic about his recovery, especially since the season has ended. "It is fine. The season has now ended, so it will recover well," he mentioned.
Following his silver medal finish at the Paris Olympics, where he lost to his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj is not immediately focusing on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Instead, he is taking things step by step, with the 2025 World Championships being his next big target. "There is a lot of time in LA28; next year, the World Championship will take place, so I will prepare for it," he added.
During his visit to the Sports University, Neeraj was greeted by cheering children, creating a heartwarming moment as they applauded his arrival. Neeraj, who enjoyed the reception, expressed his desire to inspire more young athletes and increase India’s tally of medals.
In the recent Diamond League final, Neeraj performed strongly with a best throw of 86.82m, finishing second behind Grenada’s Anderson Peters. Although he had solid throws, including 83.49m, 83.30m, and 86.46m, Peters' opening throw proved too strong.
At the Paris Olympics, Neeraj secured a silver medal with a best throw of 89.45m. Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj's main competitor, took the gold with a massive 92.97m throw, setting a new Olympic record. Grenada’s Anderson Peters earned bronze with a throw of 88.54m.
Despite falling short of retaining his Olympic gold, Neeraj remains determined, taking every competition as a learning experience and progressing toward future challenges.
Last Updated on September 27, 2024 by Disha Rojhe
