Neeraj Chopra breaks own national record with 89.30m Javelin throw
15 June, 2022 | Vaishali Sharma
neeraj chopra, javelin throw, national record,
Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic gold medalist, broke a new national record and finished with a silver medal in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, throwing 89.30 metres, breaking his own previous national record of 88.07 metres set in Patiala in March last year.
Chopra was competing in his first international tournament after earning a gold medal with a throw of 87.58 metres at the Tokyo Olympics on August 7, 2021. He finished second on the podium in the Paavo Nurmi Games with a throw of 89.30 metres, trailing Finnish favourite Oliver Helander, who produced a lifetime best of 89.93 metres. Meanwhile, Anderson Peters of Grenada finished third with a throw of 86.60 metres.
Chopra’s first competitive event after ten months turned out to be a historic occasion, as the athlete came within inches of breaking the coveted 90-meter mark, which is regarded the gold standard in the world of javelin throw.
Chopra’s next throw was a massive 89.30 metres after an opening toss of 86.92 metres. Despite fouling on his following three attempts, he finished with two throws of 85.85 metres on his sixth and final try.
Meanwhile, Chopra’s Javelin throw of 89.30 metres has moved him to sixth place on the global season leaders’ list.
The Paavo Nurmi Games, a gold event on the World Athletics Continental Tour, is one of the most important track and field events outside of the Diamond League.
After making history in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, Neeraj Chopra will participate at the Kuortane Games in Finland before travelling to Sweden for the Diamond League Stockholm leg.