Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra rewrites national record again
Neeraj Chopra, the 24-year-old Indian javelin throw star, came within six centimetres of breaking the national record for the second time in a month with an opening throw of 89.94 metres in the Stockholm Diamond League, but his attempt to breach the 90-metre barrier was unsuccessful.
The Olympic winner came in second to the world champion Anderson Peters, but in addition to setting a new national record, Chopra will be happy with the outcome in Stockholm because it marked his first top-three finish in a Diamond League competition. Chopra set a new season-opening mark at the Paavo Nurmi Games with 89.30 meters. Chopra’s 89.94 meters, which was also a meet record, were surpassed in the third round by Peters’ 90.31 meters.
Chopra’s start at the Stockholm Olympic Stadium was characteristic of him; he was smooth on the runway, released easily, took a large tumble before the scratch line, and then lifted his hands after seeing the javelin land. In the first two rounds, Chopra was in front of the eight-person field. Chopra was unable to top Peters’ third 90-meter throw of the season in the third round, despite Peters’ up-and-down phase.
With the javelin competition at the World Championships in Oregon taking place in just three weeks, Chopra’s round of throws on Thursday night demonstrated that he was in good shape. After his throw that broke the national mark, he achieved distances of 84.37, 87.46, 84.77, 86.67, and 86.84 metres.
Prior to the World Championships, Chopra has completed three competitions. He shown no symptoms of discomfort in Stockholm despite slipping on the runway at his previous competition, the Kuortane Games. Chopra had won the gold at Kuortane with a throw of 86.69 under slick conditions. After the slide, he had winced in pain, but in Stockholm, he appeared to be in fine health.
Julian Weber of Germany came in third with a throw of 89.08 metres. Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely, both of the Czech Republic, placed fourth and seventh, respectively, as the other two medalists at the Tokyo Olympics. The Olympic winner came in second to the world champion Anderson Peters, but in addition to setting a new national record, Chopra will be happy with the outcome in Stockholm because it marked his first top-three finish in a Diamond League competition. Chopra set a new season-opening mark at the Paavo Nurmi Games with 89.30 meters. Chopra’s 89.94 meters, which was also a meet record, were surpassed in the third round by Peters’ 90.31 meters.
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