Eliminating any injury fears during the Kuorten Games in Finland, where he claimed his first win of the year, Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra He said he is looking forward to starting his Diamond League season in Stockholm from June 30.
Chopra, 24, slipped after his third attempt at Cuortane on Saturday. The conditions were treacherous for a javelin throw competition with a wet and slippery run-up due to rain. He lost his balance after dropping the javelin in his third attempt and fell badly after his left shoulder hit the turf.
Tough conditions with the weather, but happy to have my first win of the season here in Cuortane. I am feeling well and looking forward to the start of my Diamond League season @bauhausgaln on the 30th.
Thanks for all the messages and support. pic.twitter.com/C1ulI0mktN— neeraj chopra (@neeraj_chopra1) June 19, 2022
Chopra won the competition with his opening throw – his only legal attempt – 86.69m. He made only three attempts—like the second and third-place finishers—2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (86.64m) of Trinidad and Tobago and world champion Anderson Peters (84.75m) of Grenada.
“Tough conditions with the weather, but happy to have my first win of the season here at Cuortane,” Chopra wrote in an Instagram post.
“I am feeling well and looking forward to starting my Diamond League season at @bauhausgalan (Stockholm Diamond League) on the 30th.” His throw was not as big as an effort of 89.30m, while Pavo Nurmi finished second at the Games in Turku, Finland on Tuesday, but the win will certainly boost his confidence ahead of the Stockholm Diamond League.
News from Cuorten: All is well @neeraj_chopra1 Then a poor slip on his third attempt. Not to worry
Brilliant! #NeerajChopraCongrats on another top class performance #indianathletics pic.twitter.com/EaMHJAGi6v
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) 18 June 2022
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) also said that ‘all is well’ with Chopra.
“News from Cuortane: All is well with Neeraj_Chopra1 after a bad slip in his third attempt. there is nothing to worry about. Well done #NeerajChopra, congratulations on another top performance,” AFI tweeted.
Peters, who has been beaten twice by Chopra in four days, is leading the charts this season with his monster throw of 93.07m by winning the gold medal at the Doha Diamond League last month. Chopra’s effort of 89.30m in Turku ranks fifth for the season.
Chopra made a stellar return to the competition after her historic gold at the Tokyo Olympics with an impressive throw of 89.30m to break her own national record, which placed her second at the Pavo Nurmi Games.
Chopra’s first competitive event after more than 10 months was nothing short of extraordinary as she nearly touched the 90m mark, which is considered the gold standard in the world of javelin throw.
His earlier national record was 88.07m which he had set in March last year in Patiala. He won the Tokyo Olympic gold medal on August 7, 2021 with a throw of 87.58m.