Paavo Nurmi Games 2024: Star Javelin Thrower Neeraj Chopra Claims Gold in Turku – News18
Star Indian javelin throw athlete Neeraj Chopra claimed the gold medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games on Tuesday to get his run-up to the Paris 2024 games underway in style.
The Olympic champion topped the event with a best effort of 85.97m to star on his return to action.
Chopra opened his evening with a throw of 83.62m on his first attempt, before following it up with a second that scaled. 83.45m.
His third attempt came in at 85.97m, which ended up clinching him the gold.
The Indian ace recorded a throw of 82.21m in his fourth try of the day before faulting on his fifth and closing out the event with his sixth attempt of 82.97m.
Home favourite Toni Keranen claimed the silver medal with a best throw of 84.19m, while his compatriot and last edition’s gold-medallist Oliver Helander took the third spot with 83.96m.
The 26-year-old Chopra came into this event following a second-place finish in the Doha Diamond League and gold in the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar last month.
After these two events, Chopra took a break after feeling “something” in his adductor.
Among others, two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada finished fourth with 82.58m, while 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago was further down at sixth after managing to clear a season’s best of 81.93m.
Chopra also participated at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, where he secured the gold medal with an underwhelming effort of 82.27m.
After the Paavo Nurmi Games, Chopra will next be seen in action at the Paris Diamond League on July 7.
He has opted out of the National Inter-State Athletics in Panchkula to be held from June 27 to avoid a hectic schedule ahead of the Olympics.
(With inputs from PTI)
