Neeraj Chopra, an Indian javelin thrower, arrived at the Olympic Village in Paris on July 30. August 6th at Stade de France will see the 26-year-old competitor in the Men's Group A Javelin Throw Qualification Round. Chopra, a Haryana native, is the defending champion, competing after winning an Olympic gold medal record at Tokyo 2020.
Through the posting of images from the Games Village on social media, Chopra delighted his followers ahead of the event. His goal is to repeat his success in Tokyo and become the first Indian to win gold medals at the Olympics twice in a row. Chopra made history in track and field at the Tokyo Olympics by winning the gold medal with a remarkable throw of 87. sixty-eight meters.
Chopra's journey to Paris has been challenging due to injuries, causing him to withdraw from several competitions leading up to the Olympics. He skipped the Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 as a precaution. Despite these setbacks, Chopra has kept himself in top form, resting adequately to prepare for the event. He will face tough competition from Czechia’s Jakub Vadlejch, who defeated him at the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 88.38 m.
India’s track and field campaign at the Paris Olympics 2024 begins on August 1. Chopra leads India’s hopes for a gold medal, with Avinash Sable also aiming for a personal best. The Indian contingent, comprising 29 athletes, will compete in various events, with 11 participating in relays. Parul Chaudhary, who won gold in the 5000m and silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the Asian Games, will compete in two events.
For the first time, India will have two representatives in the men’s javelin event, with Chopra and Kishore Jena competing in the qualification round. Jeswin Aldrin, who recorded a personal best of 8.42 m in Bellary, will also be in medal contention if he approaches that mark.