Helsinki. Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won the first gold medal for India in the athletics event of Tokyo Olympics, has once again done wonders. In the Kuorten Games being held in Finland, Neeraj on Sunday won the gold medal by throwing javelin up to 86.69 meters. In this competition, Neeraj defeated Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and World Champion Anderson Peters of Grenada. Neeraj had also set a new national record earlier last week. In the Courtenay Games, Neeraj threw two fouls and also decided not to throw the other three. Just behind him, Walcott remained with a throw of 86.64 meters. Whereas, Peters threw javelin for 84.75 meters in the third throw.
Gold for Neeraj !
He’s done it again, what an incredible champion !
• Best throw of 86.69m in his 1st attempt at the #KuortaneGames2022 @Neeraj_chopra1 clinches the top spot and goes on to win his 1st of the season
BRILLIANT pic.twitter.com/cxyrAsW7x7
— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 18, 2022
The track was wet due to rain and Neeraj deliberately fouled the second throw here. Neeraj, who was going to throw the javelin for the third time, also fell. He then decided not to do the rest of the throw. That is, because of the already successful throw, he could get the gold medal. At last week’s Pavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, Neeraj missed the javelin throw of 90 meters by just 70 centimeters. He got a silver medal in that competition. Neeraj was participating in an event for the first time since the Tokyo Olympics last year. In the Pavo Nurmi Games, Oliver Helander of Finland won the gold with a javelin throw of 89.83m.
Before the Pavo Nurmi Games, Neeraj’s national record was 88.07m. Neeraj made this record in March 2021 in Patiala. After this, on 7 August 2021, Neeraj also got the distinction of being the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics event for the first time by throwing javelin up to 87.58 meters. He also became the second Indian player after shooter Abhinav Bindra to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Neeraj will now take part in the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League on 30 June. For this, he is getting training in Finland itself. It is expected that in that leg too, he will once again illuminate the name of the country by beating all the players.