Neeraj Chopra threw the javelin a distance of 89.30 metres to finish second at the event. This was his first competitive event since winning the gold medal in Tokyo last year.
Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday took to Twitter to share a video of his throw at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, which helped him better his own national record. Neeraj threw the javelin a distance of 89.30 metres to finish second at the event. This was his first competitive event since winning the gold medal in Tokyo last year.
“No better feeling than being back on the track! Very happy to start my 2022 season with a Personal Best throw 89.30m. Thank you @paavonurmigames for a great experience and congrats to Oliver Helander for the win. Next stop @KuortaneGames,” Neeraj wrote on Twiiter.
He opened with an impressive 86.92m before sending the spear to 89.30m. His next three attempts were fouls while he came up with 85.85m in his sixth and final throw. Finland’s 25-year-old Oliver Helander, who has a personal best of 88.02m and season’s best of 80.36m, was the surprise gold winner with a best throw of 89.83m which he produced in his second attempt.
Chopra’s 89.30m effort will take him to fifth spot in the world season leaders’ list. Reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, the pre-event favourite with his world leading monster throw of 93.07m while winning gold in the Doha Diamond League last month, was third with a best effort of 86.60m. This was Peters’ first defeat after seven wins on the trot this season.