If you've followed Chopra's javelin adventures, you'll notice that he doesn't follow the trajectory to determine whether he's made a successful throw. Neeraj, like many other elite athletes, knows it. A brisk sprint with the spear, his powerful right arm stretched to its utmost potential, an emphatic throw, a quick recovery from a staged fall, a turn to face the crowd, and a scream with both hands raised. The seconds-long process, like Sachin's perfect cover drive, never gets boring.
India has produced its share of outstanding athletes; the qualities that unify them are consistency and hunger. Fortunately for us, Chopra isn't one to rest on his laurels.
A 29-member athletics squad, led by javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, will be a major component of the contingent. The defending Olympic and World champion, Neeraj Chopra, will participate in the men's javelin throw preliminaries on August 6 and the final on August 8.
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Neeraj Chopra's preparations have arguably not been the best, since he has only competed in three competitions this year. Neeraj Chopra ranks fourth on the 2024 season's top rankings. However, few Indian sportsmen have consistently risen to the occasion like him. Will Neeraj Chopra add another Olympic gold medal to his already impressive collection? Here's a look at the contenders for his title:
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In recent years, the Czech athlete and Neeraj Chopra have been a near-constant presence on men's javelin podiums worldwide. The Olympic silver medallist when Neeraj Chopra won gold in Tokyo. The bronze medallist in the World Championships when Neeraj won gold in Budapest. He opened the 2024 season by beating Neeraj Chopra to the top place in the Qatar Diamond League, although by only 2 cm. He earned a thrilling European gold medal in June with 88.65m, the second-best mark of the 2024 season. Make no mistake: he will also be a favourite in Paris 2024.
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The German is a powerfully built athlete and will be itching to make up for the lost opportunity in Tokyo where he agonisingly finished fourth. Weber has had a good season so far, with a best of 88.37m and a silver medal at the European championships behind Vadlejch.
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The teenage German wowed the sports community with a remarkable throw of 90.20m at the start of 2024, the only 90m mark recorded in men's javelin this year. However, he is farther down this list since Dehning hasn't been able to reach that level in his later tournaments, instead lingering around the mid-70s and early 80s. However, the fact that he has once completed a 90-meter throw keeps his name in the running.
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After a difficult year on the international circuit, the former world champion is off to a strong start in 2024. Peters has gone over 90m in four races in his career, all of which occurred in 2022. Following his gold medal in the 2022 World Championships, Perers was engaged in a serious accident, which hampered his 2023 season. However, with an 88.62m throw in Qatar, he has positioned himself solidly in contention for a podium finish in Paris 2024.
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It may not seem rational to include an athlete ranked 16th on the season's top ranking among the medal contenders in Paris. However, the Pakistani athlete has always been something of a mystery. Whether it's his somewhat casual throwing manner or his ability to deliver a monster throw on stage. Even in his lone appearance of the season against Paris DL, Arshad began with a tepid sub-75m throw before quickly rising to 84.21m. He is the wildcard in the bunch.
Also Read: Olympics 2024: India's Top 10 Strongest Medal Contenders
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87.58. Those figures will live on in Indian sports history. A country thrilled as Neeraj Chopra hurled the javelin into the night sky in Tokyo, spun around, and applauded enthusiastically even before the spear landed. Three years later, Neeraj Chopra attended the Paris Olympics as both the defending Olympic champion and the reigning World Champion.
Since his momentous victory in Tokyo, Chopra has been unwavering in his quest for perfection. His steady success on the international scene, which includes a gold medal at the World Championships and a win in the renowned Diamond League, has cemented his place as a serious challenger. Chopra added to his remarkable collection of gold medals at the 2023 Diamond League Final and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, increasing his status even more.
Neeraj Chopra, just the second Indian athlete to win an individual gold medal at the Summer Olympics, is India's greatest candidate for Paris 2024. Despite having only competed in three contests leading up to the Olympics this year, Neeraj is a strong candidate given his ability to shine on the biggest stage. His gold at Tokyo 2020, which came after he won the yellow medal at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, was followed by a gold and a silver at the World Championships, a gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou last year, and several more honours at competitions such as the Diamond League.
Champion @Neeraj_chopra1 is training very hard for the #Paris2024 in Turkiye ? pic.twitter.com/hEE4lQzNfa
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) July 25, 2024
Neeraj's success is largely due to his intense and precisely designed training routine. Neeraj committed to a rigorous training regimen in preparation for the Paris Olympics, to improve his strength, agility, and technique. His training regimen combines conventional and modern techniques, including weight training, running, and throwing exercises meant to improve his performance. The 26-year-old athlete has been training in the gorgeous town of Antalya, Turkey, where he has been honing his trade under the close supervision of his instructor.
Neeraj Chopra had been struggling with adductor aches for the past few months. Klaus Bartonietz, Neeraj's German coach, downplayed worries about his fitness troubles, saying his niggle "is fine" now.
Also Read: Neeraj Chopra: Age, Height, Net Worth, Awards, and Records
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