NEW DELHI: With a mighty single throw propelling him into the ultimate, whereas his opponents grappled with challenges, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra appears primed to grab the gold medal on the ongoing World Championships on Sunday.
Neeraj’s success guarantees to dispel the prevailing sense of disappointment that has shrouded the Indian contingent following their less-than-satisfactory efficiency to this point.
Chopra, who secured a silver medal within the earlier version, launched his javelin to a outstanding 88.77m in his first try within the qualification spherical on Friday. The throw not solely secured a spot within the last but in addition secured his spot within the 2024 Paris Olympics. Notably, the throw was Neeraj’s fourth-longest of his profession.
The 25-year-old has gained gold medals in Olympics (Tokyo in 2021), Asian Video games (2018) and Commonwealth Video games (2018), in addition to turning into the Diamond League champion final yr.
It’s no secret that the Olympic champion prefers to throw massive in his first try and having executed that, he packed up and left the competitors enviornment with out making any additional try to protect power for the all-important last on Sunday.
Chopra did the identical within the final version qualification spherical in USA with a 88.39m — although he completed second behind eventual champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, who threw 89.91m.
The identical occurred in Tokyo Olympics additionally, the place he gained a historic gold.
Despite the fact that Chopra has competed in simply two prime occasions this season — profitable title in each Doha and Lausanne Diamond League Conferences, his prime class throw right here on Friday confirmed that he is in nice type and rhythm, and heading in the right direction to win the one yellow color medal lacking in his embellished cupboard.
The absence of defending champion Peters within the last will even make Chopra’s job simpler although the Grenadian has been struggling for a while. He couldn’t even contact the 80m mark in his three qualifying spherical throws.
That left solely Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic and Julian Weber of Germany from among the many throwers Chopra had had gruelling duels within the final two years after Tokyo Olympics as prime contenders for the gold on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Vadlejch, who had gained silver and bronze within the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 World Championships, had entered the showpiece because the season chief with 89.51m however might solely produce a better of 83.50m on Friday. He additionally admitted that his throws weren’t “technically ultimate”.
Weber, who was a notch as much as Chopra at second within the season’s prime listing forward of the showpiece, hinted that he had a “dangerous approach session” on Friday as he might solely produce a better of 82.39m.
Furthermore, Chopra has overwhelmed each Vadlejch and Weber in Doha and Lausanne Diamond League Conferences.
Peters is out of the reckoning, however Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem has come out of nowhere to be a contender for the gold and to resume his rivalry with Chopra.
Nadeem, who final yr beat Peters for the Commonwealth Video games gold in Birmingham with a 90m-plus throw, certified for the ultimate at second place behind Chopra with a better of 86.79m.
The 26-year-old Pakistani got here straight to the showpiece with out competing any prime occasion after an elbow surgical procedure in June. However he can upset Chopra’s calculations. In Birmingham, he had denied Peters the gold along with his throw of 90.18m to change into solely the second Asian to realize 90m throw.
Nadeem has overwhelmed Chopra within the race of reaching 90m first however the Indian Olympic champion has been victorious in all of the occasions that includes the duo, ranging from the 2016 South Asian Video games the place the Pakistani had gained a bronze.
Nadeem was third when Chopra gained gold within the 2018 Asian Video games. He was eighth within the 2018 Commonwealth Video games the place Chopra clinched a gold.
Nadeem was fifth within the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 the place Chopra gained gold. Nadeem was once more fifth in 2022 World Championships the place Chopra bagged a silver. He additionally completed seventh within the 2017 Asian Championships the place Chopra grabbed a gold.
Type and historical past would give Chopra the benefit however Nadeem can’t be written off.
Not solely Chopra however DP Manu (81.31m) and Kishore Jena (80.55m) additionally made the lower as three Indians certified for the ultimate of an occasion within the World Championships for the primary time ever.
(With inputs from PTI)
Neeraj’s success guarantees to dispel the prevailing sense of disappointment that has shrouded the Indian contingent following their less-than-satisfactory efficiency to this point.
Chopra, who secured a silver medal within the earlier version, launched his javelin to a outstanding 88.77m in his first try within the qualification spherical on Friday. The throw not solely secured a spot within the last but in addition secured his spot within the 2024 Paris Olympics. Notably, the throw was Neeraj’s fourth-longest of his profession.
The 25-year-old has gained gold medals in Olympics (Tokyo in 2021), Asian Video games (2018) and Commonwealth Video games (2018), in addition to turning into the Diamond League champion final yr.
It’s no secret that the Olympic champion prefers to throw massive in his first try and having executed that, he packed up and left the competitors enviornment with out making any additional try to protect power for the all-important last on Sunday.
Chopra did the identical within the final version qualification spherical in USA with a 88.39m — although he completed second behind eventual champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, who threw 89.91m.
The identical occurred in Tokyo Olympics additionally, the place he gained a historic gold.
Despite the fact that Chopra has competed in simply two prime occasions this season — profitable title in each Doha and Lausanne Diamond League Conferences, his prime class throw right here on Friday confirmed that he is in nice type and rhythm, and heading in the right direction to win the one yellow color medal lacking in his embellished cupboard.
The absence of defending champion Peters within the last will even make Chopra’s job simpler although the Grenadian has been struggling for a while. He couldn’t even contact the 80m mark in his three qualifying spherical throws.
That left solely Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic and Julian Weber of Germany from among the many throwers Chopra had had gruelling duels within the final two years after Tokyo Olympics as prime contenders for the gold on Sunday.
The 32-year-old Vadlejch, who had gained silver and bronze within the Tokyo Olympics and 2022 World Championships, had entered the showpiece because the season chief with 89.51m however might solely produce a better of 83.50m on Friday. He additionally admitted that his throws weren’t “technically ultimate”.
Weber, who was a notch as much as Chopra at second within the season’s prime listing forward of the showpiece, hinted that he had a “dangerous approach session” on Friday as he might solely produce a better of 82.39m.
Furthermore, Chopra has overwhelmed each Vadlejch and Weber in Doha and Lausanne Diamond League Conferences.
Peters is out of the reckoning, however Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem has come out of nowhere to be a contender for the gold and to resume his rivalry with Chopra.
Nadeem, who final yr beat Peters for the Commonwealth Video games gold in Birmingham with a 90m-plus throw, certified for the ultimate at second place behind Chopra with a better of 86.79m.
The 26-year-old Pakistani got here straight to the showpiece with out competing any prime occasion after an elbow surgical procedure in June. However he can upset Chopra’s calculations. In Birmingham, he had denied Peters the gold along with his throw of 90.18m to change into solely the second Asian to realize 90m throw.
Nadeem has overwhelmed Chopra within the race of reaching 90m first however the Indian Olympic champion has been victorious in all of the occasions that includes the duo, ranging from the 2016 South Asian Video games the place the Pakistani had gained a bronze.
Nadeem was third when Chopra gained gold within the 2018 Asian Video games. He was eighth within the 2018 Commonwealth Video games the place Chopra clinched a gold.
Nadeem was fifth within the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 the place Chopra gained gold. Nadeem was once more fifth in 2022 World Championships the place Chopra bagged a silver. He additionally completed seventh within the 2017 Asian Championships the place Chopra grabbed a gold.
Type and historical past would give Chopra the benefit however Nadeem can’t be written off.
Not solely Chopra however DP Manu (81.31m) and Kishore Jena (80.55m) additionally made the lower as three Indians certified for the ultimate of an occasion within the World Championships for the primary time ever.
(With inputs from PTI)
