India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, while Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold with a new Olympic record.
Nadeem, hailing from Mian Channu in Punjab, Pakistan, delivered an impressive throw of 92.97 meters on his second attempt, setting a new Olympic record and marking the best performance globally this year. The 27-year-old athlete’s historic victory ended Pakistan’s 32-year wait for an Olympic medal in athletics.
Neeraj Chopra, the defending champion from the Tokyo Olympics, had been a frontrunner in the qualifiers but was unable to showcase his usual prowess in the final. His top throw of 89.45 meters, which came in his second attempt, was his only successful attempt, as he incurred fouls on the other five throws.
With this silver medal, Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win two Olympic medals. He is also the fourth Indian athlete to clinch two Olympic medals in individual sports, joining shuttler PV Sindhu, wrestler Sushil Kumar, and shooter Manu Bhaker.
Bronze went to Anderson Peters of Grenada, who achieved a distance of 88.54 meters. This moment was particularly significant for the two-time world champion, as he had previously failed to qualify for the finals during the Tokyo Games three years prior.
The victory was celebrated with exuberance by Nadeem, who is now being hailed as a national hero in Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Nadeem for making history for the nation.
Neeraj Chopra’s path to the podium was not without challenges. He faced a shaky start, committing a foul on his first attempt and struggling to find his rhythm throughout the competition.
The pressure intensified after Nadeem’s record-setting throw, which seemed to unsettle Neeraj Chopra and other competitors. Despite his frustrations, including three subsequent fouls, Neeraj managed to secure the silver medal, reinforcing his status as a leading figure in Indian athletics.
Neeraj Chopra’s silver added to India’s medal tally at the Paris Olympics, bringing the total to five, which includes four bronze medals.
Notably, the Indian men’s hockey team also secured a bronze medal by defeating Spain 2-1 on the same day, further contributing to India’s success at the Games.
