Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra bags gold at Paavo Nurmi Games
First Published: 19th June, 2024 9:51 IST
Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada was fourth with 82.58m.
India’s Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw competition at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 athletics meet in Turku, Finland on Tuesday.
The Indian javelin ace, whose personal best of 89.94m is the Indian men’s national record, logged his best throw of the night, a modest 85.97m in his third attempt to clinch the top podium.
Finland’s Toni Keranen won the silver medal with a personal best of 84.19m throw while his compatriot Oliver Helander, who had denied Neeraj the gold at the meet two years ago, took the bronze with 83.96m.
Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada was fourth with 82.58m.
Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world and Olympic champion, was competing in his third event of the year.
On the road to defend his crown at the Paris 2024 Olympics later this year, Neeraj started his season with a second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League on May 10 with an 88.36m throw.
He then logged a modest 82.27m to bag the gold medal at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar five days later. It was his first competition in India since becoming an Olympic champion.
Neeraj was also scheduled to compete at the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet in Czechia late last month but did not participate as a precautionary measure after a muscle tweak during a training session.
Neeraj Chopra‘s throws at Paavo Nurmi Games 2024: 1. 83.62m; 2. 83.45m, 3. 85.97m; 4. 82.21m; 5. X; 6. 82.97m
Returning to action at the Turku meet, the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist began proceedings with an 83.62m mark with his first throw to lead the first series but was knocked off his perch by Helander in the next round.
An 85.97m throw in the third series saw the Indian ace regain his lead and stay on top till the end.
Germany’s 19-year-old Max Dehning, the youngest javelin thrower to breach the 90m mark, finished seventh in the eight-man field with 79.84m.
Dehning had recorded a world-leading 90.20m throw at a meet in Halle in February.
London 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago produced a season’s best 81.93m to finish sixth in Turku. (ANI)
COMMENTS

TOPMOST STORY NOW

Live Brother of BSF Jawan Deepak Chingakham Who Died in Cross-Border Firing by Pakistan in Jammu Appointed ASI in Manipur Police on Compassionate Grounds
11th July 2025
Live Maikhuli Villagers Protest MoU Over Assam-Meghalaya Border, Demand Return of Fishery
11th July 2025
Live Chhangur Baba Received Rs 500 Crore in Foreign Funds for Illegal Conversions: Anti-Terror Squad
11th July 2025
Live Taiwan Detects 9 Chinese Warships, 1 Aircraft Breaching ADIZ Amid Rising Tensions
11th July 2025WE RECOMMEND

‘I got soundly punished’: Magnus Carlsen Praises D Gukesh After Another Defeat, Admits Struggling for Form
Following the defeat, Carlsen was uncharacteristically candid in his post-match interview, acknowledging Gukesh's brilliance.
04th July 2025
Mizo Judoka, Lalhumhimi Clinch Gold Medal at World Police Championship 2025 in USA, Brings Laurel to State and Country
Lalhumhimi emerged as the best among global competitors in her weight category
01st July 2025
Bhutan Defeats Bodoland XI in Thrilling International Women’s Football Friendly at Kokrajhar
The highlight of the competition was a friendly match between the Bhutan Senior National Women’s Team and the Bodoland XI (India).
30th June 2025
“Australia had ruined our…”: Rohit Sharma on iconic T20 WC 2024 win against 50-over champions
Team India registered a 24-run victory over the Australian side in the Super Eight of the competition on June 24.
27th June 2025
KL Rahul, Pant score classy tons to steer India to 298 at Tea against England
Pant scored 118 runs in the second innings, his second ton in the match, and consolidated the innings with a crucial 195-run partnership with KL Rahul
23rd June 2025