Neeraj Chopra at Paris Olympics highlights from men’s javelin throw: Neeraj takes silver; Arshad Nadeem breaks Olympic record

A huge applause to Arshad Nadeem?? and Neeraj Chopra?? for bringing gold?and silver? medals in the men’s Javelin throw at the 2024 Olympics to South Asia.?
Your incredible achievements make the entire region proud!?#ArashadNadeem #NeerajChopra #Olympics2024

— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) August 8, 2024

Neeraj Chopra's fondness for "desi khana" is well-documented and his family is planning to welcome the two-time Olympic medallist with his favourite dish "Churma" 

"He did really well. We will welcome him with churma which is his favourite. I am delighted, people are lighting firecrackers, we are making ladoos," Saroj said.

Chopra's performance is creditable also because of the highly-competitive field in which as many as seven athletes went beyond the 86m mark.

"We are very happy. He produced his season's best. All were near 88-89m so competition was very tough. It's not about winning a gold or silver, but about winning a medal, and he did his best," Chopra's aunt Kamlesh said.

Chopra is one of India's most decorated athletes, having won the gold at every tournament including the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League, Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.

"After Tokyo there was no medal left except for silver, that was also needed so he got it," Kamlesh said.

She said that the family had an inkling that Chopra was unlikely to win a gold after Nadeem's monstrous throw.

"After Nadeem's throw (92.97m) we had a feeling (that he will win gold) but he is also our son, we are happy with him.

"He's also Asia's son. We don't differentiate between Nadeem and Neeraj. Both have got gold and silver and we are very happy," she added

'Neeraj Chopra is like a son to me. He is Nadeem's friend and brother. They are like brothers. Win and loss are part and parcel of life. I prayed for him too,' said Nadeem's mother,' said Arshad's mother. 

"If mothers ran the world, there would be no hate, no wars. #ArshadNadeem's mother: 'Neeraj Chopra is like a son to me. I prayed for him too.' (courtesy indyurdu) #NeerajChopra's mother: 'We're happy with silver. The one who won gold (Arshad Nadeem) is also my child.'"… pic.twitter.com/hCHGGZ6c30

— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) August 9, 2024

Neeraj on trouble with his injuries

"I am not able to throw from a full runway. I have been throwing for the past year or two. Maximum throwers throw 40-50 in a session. It took me 2-3 weeks to complete a session because there is a fear of injury.

"It is very difficult. I am forcefully pulling it." He also explained that his lower body is as important as the throwing arm in getting the right elevation and speed.

"If the rest of the body doesn't work, it won't help. I can go for a heavy and fast heave but when there is a broken leg, there are a lot of technical things. It is very difficult to throw with just the arm, to put all your power on it.

"It gets wasted if the legs don't work properly. So there are a lot of technical things. I will not go into it, you won't understand." Chopra said he finds it painful to miss competitions because of fitness concerns.

"My coach always says that if you get a good blocking leg and a good groin then the throw will be 2-3-4 meters ahead and then I have to send a message saying, 'Sorry, I have to withdraw'.

"Personally, I don't like it at all," he said

"Gold jis ka hai, wo bhi hamara he larka hai".
Yeh baat sirf aik maa he keh sakti hai. Amazing.

— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) August 9, 2024

Although Neeraj Chopra didn't mention the 90m mark but Chopra said he has potential to achieve bigger throws. Chopra's career-best remains 89.94m which was achieved back in 2022. "The distance that I had in me in 2016, especially in 2018, when I scored an 88m in the Asian Games, after that, I feel that I still have a lot of throws left. So, until that happens, I won't be able to find peace. And I want to tell you that there is a lot inside," he said without getting into the specifics. "And I will do it. I will keep my mind ready for the future. I will work on things. I will keep myself fit."

"I have a lot on my mind. When I am throwing, 60-70 per cent focus of my is on the injury. I don't want to get injured. Whenever I go for a throw, you will see that my speed is low. I am pushing myself," said Neeraj .

"The doctor told me to go for surgery but I didn't have that much time to take that decision before the world championship or after the world championship because it takes a lot of time to prepare for the Olympics," he added.

"The rivalry is there when it comes to cricket matches and other sports, definitely. But at the same time, it is a good thing for youngsters in both countries who are pursuing a sport to follow us and follow their sports icons and bring laurels to their countries," says Nadeem.

"I haven't spoken to Vinesh yet. But whatever she has done here, woh ek misaal hai. To beat Yui Susaki is in itself such a big thing. And after that, whatever she has been through, I don't understand the rules of wrestling that well. But, she was on her way confitendly to gold. But then, this happened. I was having breakfast in the morning when I got to know this. Felt really, really sad.

"Jo Vinesh ji ki journey rahi hai, everyone knows how tough it has been. In 2016, to overcome such a dangerous injury, and then in 2020 have more injuries. She has been through so many personal setbacks. And for her to come back from that, recover from it, get herself to this position and be mentally strong from all that...it was going so well. Phir pata nahi, bhagwan ko kuch aur hi Manzoor tha. But we know that whatever she has done, it is great."

Neeraj Chopra's mother Saroj Devi says that she was very happy with Neeraj winning a silver medal in the men's javelin throw event at Paris Olympics 2024. His mother says, "We are very happy, for us silver is also equal to gold...he was injured, so we are happy with his performance."

Check out the full interview courtesy ANI

#WATCH | Haryana: On Neeraj Chopra winning a silver medal in men's javelin throw at #ParisOlympics2024, his mother Saroj Devi says, "We are very happy, for us silver is also equal to gold...he was injured, so we are happy with his performance..." pic.twitter.com/6VxfMZD0rF

— ANI (@ANI) August 8, 2024

Muhammad Ashraf is a proud man, thanks to his son who has now become the Olympic champion in javelin throw. 

Muhammad Ashraf still works as a mason in the Mian Chanu village in Pakistan’s Punjab province. His son, who has moved to Lahore to train, is a Commonwealth Games and Olympic Champion Arshad Nadeem.

For the proud father, seeing his son achieve success surpasses all joys. He spoke to The Indian Express' Nitin Sharma. 

“My son has got a new home in Mian Channu town which is fully furnished. I have worked as a labourer all my life but see how far my son has gone,” says Muhammad Ashraf.

Read the interview of Arshad Nadeem's father with The Indian Express

Arshad Nadeem's triumph makes him Pakistan's first-ever individual gold medallist at the Olympics. Pakistan's men’s hockey team had won three golds in the past. But the last of these golds came in Los Angeles 1984, 40 years ago! This is also Pakistan’s first medal of any colour at the Olympics in 32 years.

Arshad Nadeem’s gold is also Pakistan’s first-ever track and field medal at the Olympics.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem claimed the gold medal at the Paris Olympics with an Olympic record throw of 92.97 metres and a throw of 91.79 metres with his final attempt. In fact, Arshad Nadeem registered three of the four best throws on the night. 

He had made the cut for the javelin throw final with a throw of 86.59m, which was his previous season best throw. 

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem  has a reputation for being a little bit of a wild card in javelin.  

So what makes Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem an unpredictable contender in the men's javelin throw event? Arshad Nadeem has a history of delivering exceptional performances on the biggest stage. His ability to produce unexpected results, as evidenced by his remarkable throws at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, makes him a dangerous opponent for any athlete.

Arshad Nadeem's casual throwing style belies his immense talent and power.

In the previous nine events where Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem had competed together, the Indian had ended ahead of the Pakistani every single time.

That changed at the Paris Olympics as Arshad pulled out an Olympic record throw. And then another throw over 90 metres for good measure. 

What an incredible event men’s javelin has become… a sport once dominated by Europeans.

Tokyo 2020: India’s 1st-ever athletics Olympic champion

Paris 2024:  Pakistan’s first ever athletics Olympic champion 

Neeraj Chopra threw the spear to a distance of 87.58 metres in Tokyo to win a gold medal. Today, he threw a distance of 89.45 metres, to end with a silver. 

Neeraj Chopra has one of this worst nights in competition . And he still finishes with a silver medal at the Olympics. With the second best throw of his career. INCREDIBLE! 

And Neeraj Chopra looks mildly disappointed by the performance. 

FIrst gold medal for Pakistan in athletics here. Arshad Nadeem ends the competition with a monster throw of 91.79m. That's twice on the ngiht he has crosed 90 metres today. 

Three of the top four throws on the night have come from the Pakistani thrower.

The second best throw of the night comes from Neeraj Chopra, which gets him silver medal. But he has just one clean throw on the night. 

Neeraj Chopra slips again. And he chooses to cross the line deliberately. So he has only the one single throw on the ngiht. And that throw is enough to give him sivler medal. 

Arshad Nadeem takes gold with Olympic record. 

The two time world champion will settle for bronze medal.

Neeraj Chopra next

Jakub Vadlejch ends fourth! 

The Tokyo 2020 silver medallist cannot medal this time around! Neeraj Chopra's final throw coming up next! 

“Araam nal throw kar (Throw with ease)," says Arshad’s coach Salman Butt to Arshad as the Pakistani is near the stands to take his coach’s advice. With the Olympic mark set, Arshad would need that aaram (rest) after the final!

Neeraj Chopra's fifth throw is a foul throw, Neeraj Chopra slips and falls on the ground. And his body crosses the line once again. This is his third foul throw on the night. He shows signs of frustration, which is rare. He lets out a shout!  

(BUT EVEN WHEN HE'S NOT AT HIS VERY BEST, HE'S STILL IN SILVER MEDAL POSITION. WITH HIS SECOND BEST THROW EVER. AND IN THE FINAL OF THE OLYMPICS.)

This Arshad Nadeem throws from well behind the line, the javelin trajectory starts from much higher, and he barely tumbles forward showing how balanced his big frame makes him, as he doesn't lurch just skids few strides left. It's unbelievable, raw shoulder power far over and above reliance on spine torque flexibility. Nadeem never looks particularly happy about his throws though in his follow through, be it 90+ or barely 80. His monster 92.97 throw had an arm swing angle of 110 degrees, but the 88+ was hurled from 104 deg. Pakistan look like medalling for the first time at Olympics since 1992 Barcelona. He has frankly jolted and dragged Neeraj Chopra towards 90, and his top throw is straight standard for the Indian to overhaul that mark, and get to the elusive 90.

Neeraj Chopra falls on the ground again as he releases the throw, and the javelin barely crosses 80m. So Neeraj Chopra chooses to shuffle over the line and get a no mark against that throw.  

What's interesting is that at Tokyo 2020, Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic threw a farthest distance of 85.44 metres, and it was enough to help him win a bronze medal. Today, seven out of the eight throwers who are getting three more throws in the final, have crossed that distance in three attempts. This is high-quality field.  

Here's a look at the top 8 at the halfway mark. Neeraj Chopra is second, Arshad Nadeem is first. 

*And then we have 8: * After the first three throws, we will only have the top 8 competing. It came down to a three-way battle between the Finnish athletes. The country considered the home of javelin will have only representative in the top 8. The top 8 will only get to throw their remaining three attempts. 

And also, the order will now be reversed. 8th will go 1st, 7th will go 2nd… Nadeem will go last for the next three throws.

And Neeraj Chopra's third throw of the night is barely past 75metres. So he deliberately crosses the foul line, and gets a "no-mark" against that throw. 

He's still second in the night. And he has assured himself three more throws as we see the elimination of four throwers on the ngiht. 

And Arshad Nadeem gets in another big throw. it hands at 88.72 metres. And he's unhappy with that attempt! With a nearly-89 metres throw!!

The Tokyo Olympics silver medallist have moved up to third spot behind Neeraj Chopra with a throw of 88.50 metres.

NEERAJ CHOPRA WITH A NEW ENTRY IN HIS TOP 2: It’s a brilliant 2nd attempt from Neeraj and he improves what he threw in the qualification to move into the 2nd spot right away. That’s a new second best ever throw for him. And it is a Pakistan-India 1-2.

This is some response from the Olympic champion, Neeraj Chopra. 

he nails his second throw, which lands at a 89.45 metres.

That's not just a season best, it's also a his second farthest throw. In his career! 

This is going to be a exciting night! 

LAYING DOWN THE MARKER: Arshad Nadeem with an INCREDIBLE THROW FOR A NEW OLYMPIC RECORD. Where did that come from? The man from Pakistan looked like he didn’t have his runup right in the first attempt, had to restart, then still didn’t look comfortable. And then he comes and does this.

We're hearing from Mihir Vasavda from the stadium that Neeraj Chopra's first throw, whic he unfortunately unded up fouling, was about a metre over the 85m mark. 

WHAT A THROW FROM THE PAKISTANI!!! AND HE HIMSELF CANNOT BELIEVE IT! HE CUPS HIS FACE! 

The throw was released with a arm speed of 110 kmph! And at a 31.76 degree release angle. And he;s not just leading on the night, he's better erd his personal best and taken the Olympci record! 

The javelin lands at 92.97 metres.

And Anderson Peters has surged into the lead after a throw of 87.87metres. And he has the lead on the night. It's still early days. this is a six-throw-per thrower final. But only the top 8 throwers after three throws will get three more attempts. 

And Jakub VADLEJCH, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics silver medallist, sends a throw to a distance of 84.52m

106 km/ph is his release speed from the arm. Both he and his coach look unhappy.  

Neeraj Chopra comes out and has his first throw. But he slips and falls, and while the rest of his body is inside the line, his foot crosses the line for a split second. 

That throw will not count. 

Wow, Nadeem's first throw is way short of 75. Had stuttered run up. Had to restart. Both foul: Nadeem and Weber.

Jakub Vadlejch is one of the most consistent throwers in the international circuit, but didn’t look too comfortable in qualifying. 80.15 from him, and that’s not a great start for him. He does have a knack of going big late on. Peters with a solid 84.70, but wow, where has this come from. The 2012 London champ Keshorn Walcott throws a stunning 86.16 to start.

Julian Weber, the German thrower, who ended fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, is also not going to register a mark. 

Arshad Nadeem gets into his run up almost runs to the line, pauses. Walks back. 

Tejaswin Shankar says that it's nervousness. He throws finally, inside the stipulated time. But then he fouls the throw intentionally because he's not happy with how far it's gone. 

The 85 metres mark is breached for the first time on the night. And it's Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott, who sends the spear to a distance of 86.16m

Anderson PETERS is the second thrower of the night. And he starts with a heave of 84.70 metres.

The Czech republic thrower, who claimed silver behind Neeraj Chopra at Tokyo, starts with a heave of 80.15metres.

Fascinating contrast between the throwers as they're introduced. Some are jumping on their feet. Others are walking slowly.

Neeraj Chopra comes up with folded hands and a bow! 

In the JioCinema broadcast, Tejaswin Shankar, who is a good friend of Neeraj Chopra, points out that Neeraj is at a unique point heading into the javelin throw finals. 

'We're used to (Indians being) an underdog story. But Neeraj is a champion story, We're not used to this. So i think pressure will be on others. But we have to forget this mindset that we are underdogs. For the first time, we're not an underdog in the final. And that's what excites me,' Tejaswin says.  

The official broadcaster is showing clips of Neeraj Chopra having a few javelins into the Paris evening. One in particular crosses the 80m mark with ease. Of course, these don’t count and he’s crossed the throwing line anyway. But these practice throws tell you what the form of the thrower is. His body is not looking stiff at all. 

In the JioCinema broadcast, Tejaswin Shankar, who is a good friend of Neeraj, points out that Neeraj Chopra is not even fully in competition kit. So there is still plenty that he has in the tank. 

Neeraj Chopra will be throwing 8th in the first iteration of three throws. Among the main medal contenders he will be the last to get his first throw away, points out Vinayakk

Here’s a look at the various records currently in men’s javelin throw. The world record isn’t going to be threatened, that will likely stay with Jan Zelezny. The Olympic Record perhaps? And yes, Neeraj still holds the U20 Junior World Record.

As Neeraj Chopra’s event draws closer, here’s a throw-back to the time when he became U20 world champion by creating a new junior world record. 

Where it all began for @Neeraj_chopra1 ??

From world U20 champion to Olympic champion ?#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/MkMkWpXrsF

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 13, 2021

Mihir Vasavda, The Indian Express' man on the ground in Paris covrering the 2024 Olympics, sends this image to inform us that Neeraj Chopra is out in the middle. (And to make us envious about the fact that he is watching Neeraj Chopra live for the second time after witnessing Neeraj Chopra win the gold medal at a near-empty stadium in Tokyo three years ago.)

Julius Yego, one of the automatic qualifiers for the javelin final, has one of the coolest backstories.

Born in Kenya, a country known for endurance athletes, Yego wanted to be different. “I used to watch the guys throw a wooden javelin at primary school and I had an inner feeling I could throw better [than them] if I tried. My brother was doing well in javelin, so I tried my luck,” he said once.

But there was no real coaching available for him in Kenya to master the javelin. So what did he do? Julius Yego learnt the sport watching YouTube videos of former world and Olympic champion Andreas Thorkildsen and 2007 world champion Tero Pitkamaki. Then in 2011 he got a scholarship in Finland (the home of javelin) to hone his technique. He went on to become world champion in 2015 and Rio Olympics silver medallist.

Just like Neeraj Chopra, Julian Weber had a one and done qualification throw on Tuesday. He heaved the javelin a distance of 87.76m, which is the third farthest distance thrown today in qualification.

Here's why Julian Weber of Germany poses a significant threat to Neeraj Chopra's dominance in the javelin throw: With a personal best of 89.54 meters and a season's best of 88.37 meters, Germany's Julian Weber is a powerful force to be reckoned with in the men's javelin throw event. His silver medal finish at the European Championships, behind Jakub Vadlejch, underscores his consistent performance at the highest level.

Julian Weber's fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics will serve as a strong motivation for him to challenge for the top spot in Paris 2024. Julian Weber's combination of strength, technique, and competitive drive make him a formidable opponent for Neeraj Chopra.

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem has also made the cut for the finals with a throw of 86.59m, which is a season best throw. He has the fourth farthest throw of the afternoon.

What makes Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem an unpredictable contender in the men's javelin throw event? Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem is a wildcard contender in the javelin throw event.

Despite ranking outside the top 15 this season, Arshad Nadeem has a history of delivering exceptional performances on the biggest stage. His ability to produce unexpected results, as evidenced by his remarkable throws at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, makes him a dangerous opponent for any athlete.

Arshad Nadeem's casual throwing style belies his immense talent and power. With the potential to unleash extraordinary throws, Arshad Nadeem is a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Paris Olympics.

Here's what Nihal Koshie had to say on Neeraj Chopra's qualification throw: "The true mark of a great competitor is the ability to rise to the occasion and perform in a big final. Neeraj has proved time and again that he can be banked upon to finish on the podium whenever he steps up on the runway, be it the Olympic Games, the World Championship, the Asian Games and the Diamond League Final.

But Chopra barely celebrated his throw in the qualifying round. He knows only too well that there are dangerous competitors lurking at the Stade de France and all of them are hitting their stride. Grenada’s Anderson Peters, the 2022 World Champion also needed just one throw, 88.63 metres, and so did Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem with 86.59 metres. (READ MORE)

Meet Anderson Peters, The Resurgent Champion!

Behind Neeraj Chopra, Anderson Peters had the second farthest throw of the qualification round: 88.63m. 

Grenadian javelin star Anderson Peters is a formidable force in the world of athletics. With a personal best of 93.07 meters, he has proven his ability to compete at the highest level and produce big throws. Despite facing setbacks, including a serious injury that hampered his 2023 season, Anderson Peters has demonstrated remarkable resilience.

His impressive season best of 88.63 meters (before qualification, his SB was 88.62 meters) in 2024 positions him as a strong contender for a podium finish at the Paris Olympics. As the former world champion, Anderson Peters brings a wealth of experience and competitive spirit to the event, making him a threat to any opponent.

Here's what Neeraj Chopra told broadcasters JioCinema after securing qualification into the javelin throw final with a single throw two days back: 

Neeraj Chopra on why he was not getting carried away with the distance of his qualification throw: 

After cruising through to the men's Javelin Throw final at Paris 2024 with a season best throw, the reigning champion Neeraj Chopra spoke to Jio Cinema: “It was a good throw, but this is just the qualification, the real deal is the final.”

Neeraj Chopra on the difference between Paris and Tokyo: 

Comparing the conditions between Tokyo and Paris, Chopra stated: “In Tokyo, we threw in the sunshine and here it’s a bit cooler and the humidity is much lesser. Tokyo was much warmer and more humid than Paris. The big difference is that there are crowds here.”

Neeraj Chopra on the challenge of being defending champion: 

For Neeraj personally, the challenge at Paris 2024 - to walk in as the defending champion - is one to relish: “Being defending champion is motivation and I need to be prepared. The mind should be focused on doing the job at hand.”

Neeraj Chopra on the raised bar at Paris 2024: 

“The final will be a cracker, the Tokyo final mark has already been surpassed by qualification. We were a little relaxed today. The burden and pressure will be much more in the final.”

Neeraj Chopra on injury concerns surrounding him:

The Olympic champion conceded to the host broadcasters, “I’ve had a few issues with my groin & that’s why I didn’t take part in a lot of competitions. It’s important to stay fit and reach the final.”