Neeraj Chopra bags silver in Paris to enter elite list of Indian Olympic medalists

Neeraj Chopra smashed his season-best throw in his only legitimate attempt in the men’s Javelin final in Paris, a 89.45m colossus to clinch silver after Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem managed to hammer an Olympic record of 92.97m which bagged him the gold.

Neeraj, who won the gold at Tokyo, became the first Indian athlete in track and field to land back-to-back Olympic medals. Wrestler Sushil Kumar (2008 and 2012) and shuttler PV Sindhu (2016 and 2020) are the two other Indians who bagged medals in consecutive Olympics, making this a rare feat to rack up.

After winning the silver medal, Neeraj Chopra said, “We all feel happy whenever we win a medal for the country. It’s time to improve the game now. We will sit, discuss, and enhance our performance. India performed well at the Paris Olympics, and the competition was strong. Aaj Arshad ka din tha (Today was Arshad's day). I gave my best but there are areas that need improvement. Our national anthem may not have been played today, but it will definitely be played somewhere in the future. If not in Paris, then elsewhere.”

He concluded by saying, “(Acha hai ander. Ander throw to hai. Wo niklegi jab sab tari ke se fit ho jayenge aur mentally tayyar ho jayenge) It’s all good inside. My best throw is yet to come out. It will come when I’m completely fit and mentally prepared.”