India’s Neeraj Chopra secured a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a season-best throw of 89.45 meters. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold medal with a historic throw of 92.97 meters, setting a new Olympic record.Chopra, the defending Olympic champion, expressed satisfaction with his performance while acknowledging room for improvement. “I gave my best, but some things need to be looked upon and worked upon,” Chopra stated. He graciously recognized Nadeem’s achievement, saying, “Today was Arshad’s day”.Despite missing out on gold, Chopra made history by becoming the second male Indian athlete to win medals in consecutive Olympics. His mother, Saroj Devi, displayed remarkable sportsmanship, stating, “The one who got the gold is also like our son”.The competition highlighted the spirit of camaraderie between Chopra and Nadeem. An old remark by Nadeem resurfaced, emphasizing their friendship: “My message to Neeraj Chopra is that our friendship continues to flourish and people remember us with great words”.Chopra is already looking ahead, focusing on future improvements. “It’s time to improve the game now. We will sit and discuss and enhance our performance,” he said. This forward-thinking approach demonstrates his commitment to continuous growth and excellence in the sport.The event also brought to light a touching gesture from the past. It was revealed that Chopra had helped Nadeem acquire a new javelin just five months before the Olympics, advising manufacturers to sponsor him. This act of sportsmanship adds another layer to their rivalry and friendship.As India celebrates Chopra’s silver, there’s optimism for future competitions. As Chopra himself put it, “Our national anthem may not have been played today, but it will definitely be played somewhere else in the future”.
Key points
- Neeraj Chopra won silver in javelin throw at the Paris Olympics with a season-best 89.
- Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won gold with an Olympic record-breaking 92.
- Chopra displayed great sportsmanship, acknowledging Nadeem’s performance and focusing on future improvement.
- The event highlighted the friendship and mutual respect between Chopra and Nadeem.
45m throw.
97m throw.
