Neeraj Chopra, the celebrated Indian javelin thrower who secured a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and gained recognition as a national hero, triumphed once again at the Lausanne Diamond League 2023. In a remarkable display of skill, Neeraj unleashed an exceptional throw spanning a distance of 87.66 meters during his fifth attempt on Friday, June 30. This outstanding performance not only secured his victory but also positioned him ahead of all other participants in the competition.
Hailing from Haryana and serving in the Army, the 25-year-old Neeraj Chopra has consistently displayed his prowess in javelin throw. Having already etched his name in history as the first Indian track and field athlete to claim an Olympic medal on August 7, 2021, in Tokyo, Neeraj returned to the field after recovering from an injury that had forced him to miss several competitions following his triumph at the Diamond League 2023 event in Doha back in May.
During the competition, Neeraj initially faced some challenges, as his first attempt was declared invalid, causing him to appear slightly out of form. Germany’s Julian Webber took the lead with an impressive throw covering a distance of 86.20 meters. After the first round, Neeraj failed to secure a spot among the top three athletes.
Undeterred by the setback, Neeraj improved in his second attempt, achieving a throw spanning 83.52 meters. However, Julian retained his lead by the end of the second round. Despite this, Neeraj’s ranking improved, propelling him to the third position on the leaderboard.
With his third attempt, Neeraj reached a distance of 85.02 meters, elevating him to the second position. At the conclusion of the third round, he maintained his position at number two, with Julian still in the lead, having thrown a distance of 86.20 meters.
Regrettably, Neeraj’s fourth attempt suffered the same fate as his first, rendering it invalid. Nevertheless, at the end of the fourth round, Neeraj persisted in securing the second position.
The magic of Neeraj’s “golden arm” was unleashed during his fifth attempt, as he achieved a remarkable throw spanning 87.66 meters. This outstanding performance propelled him to the coveted number-one position.
Consequently, Neeraj emerged as the titleholder, with Julian slipping to second place after a commendable throw of 87.03 meters. Jakub Vadlech of the Czech Republic claimed the third spot with a throw spanning 86.13 meters.
Neeraj Chopra’s extraordinary achievements continue to inspire and solidify his status as a true champion, bringing pride and glory to India on the international stage.
Here’s the video of Neeraj Chopra 87.66-metre javelin throw:
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