Neeraj Chopra in action during men’s javelin throw final on Thursday. (Picture Credit: AP)
Neeraj touched the distance of 89.45 m in his second attempt on Thursday, but it was not enough to help him finish above Arshad Nadeem and win the second gold medal.
Neeraj Chopra was the favourite to win the gold medal for India in the men’s javelin throw final at the Paris Olympics, but despite his season-best throw of 89.45 m in the second attempt, the 26-year-old had to settle for a silver medal. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem breached the 90-meter mark twice in the final on Thursday (August 8) to win the gold medal, which is also the first-ever individual gold medal in Olympics history by a Pakistani.
After settling for silver in Paris, Neeraj has fired a warning to his rivals by saying that the game is not over yet and he will come prepared much better for future competitions.
Speaking to Olympic Khel after his second-place finish on Thursday, Neeraj said he has been dealing with injuries for quite some time, because of which he is not able to take part in enough competitions and work on his mistakes.
“Medal aaya hai, tiranga haath mein hai, iss cheej ki Khushi hai. Bahut he kaam karna baki hai, kaafi time se injury chal rahi hai, competition utne nahi khel paa raha jitne khelne chahiye aur un cheejo par kaam nahi kar paa raha jo mistake hai, agar kaam hoga cheejo par to bahut acha hoga (I have been dealing with injuries for quite some time now, because of which I am unable to take part in enough competitions and work on my mistakes. If I manage to do so, then it will be good.)”
According to Neeraj, despite having not breached the 90-meter mark so far, he had the belief that he would overtake Nadeem in the final after he touched the distance of 92.97 m in his second attempt.
“Personally, mujhe lag raha tha jab Arshad ne throw lagayi—second throw—toh mujhe lag raha tha ki kar denge. Pata nahi vo ajeeb sa believe tha khud pe, bhaley he maine 90 m abhi tak nahi lagayi lekin andar vo junoon tha ki karenge par chalo jo bhi hai 89 lagi throw vo bhi sahi hai (I had the belief that I would manage to do it. Even though I had never crossed the 90-meter mark, I was still hopeful. But it’s okay; my 89 is also fine).”
“Par wahi hai ki abhi khel khatam nahi hua. Abhi bahut kuch baaki hai. Arshad ne achi throw lagayi, jisne mehnat kari hai aur throw lagayi hai usko manna padega. Kafi zabardast competition tha (The game is not over yet. There is still a lot to play for. Arshad produced a good throw. He did a lot of hard work for it, and we should admit that. The competition was very tough),” he added.
Neeraj had created history in Tokyo by becoming the first Indian to win a medal in athletics at the Olympics. He topped the qualification rounds as well on Tuesday (August 6), but in the final, Nadeem was too good.
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