"Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified": Indian star receives praise despite second-place finish at Paris Olympics 2024
Neeraj Chopra won a silver medal in the men's javelin throw at the Paris Olympics 2024. He is a former gold medalist at the Tokyo Games but this time some beasty performance from Arshad Nadeem was a standout and forced Chopra to settle for a second-place finish.
Notably, Neeraj Chopra made only one throw which was eligible and others were considered foul throws. The second throw from him which recorded 89.45m stood second best to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem's 92.97m. Nadeem in the process broke the Olympic record of Norway's Andreas Thordkilsen who registered a 90.57m throw in the 2008 Beijing Games.
Chopra was seen a bit under pressure throughout, something which fans don't see from him much. Nonetheless, he brought a silver, a first for the Indian contingent at the ongoing edition of the Olympic Games. Post the outcome of the men's javelin event, notable personalities took to social media to praise Chopra.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his X handle to congratulate the 26-year-old:
"Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again he’s shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success. Congratulations to him on winning the Silver. He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams and make our nation proud."
Jay Shah, the honorary secretary of the BCCI, India's governing body in cricket, posted on X:
"Back-to-back Olympic medals for our star, Neeraj Chopra! India's first silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, and what a way to achieve it! You might have fallen short of the gold, but your commitment and effort in the final were really inspiring!"
Former cricketer and current India head coach Gautam Gambhir praised Neeraj Chopra heavily. He wrote on X:
"The icon never returns without bringing joy to every Indian!"
Famous and notable cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle said:
"It tells you of the quality of Neeraj Chopra that he was off-colour and won a silver! That is some achievement."
India's minister of Labour and Employment, Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya wrote:
"What a moment for Bharat! A Silver Medal for Neeraj Chopra. He has won his 2nd consecutive Olympic medal! This incredible achievement is historic—no individual in independent Bharat has ever done it before in athletics. Congratulations Neeraj, you've inspired a nation and shown the world what determination and excellence look like. We couldn't be prouder! Thank you for making India shine on the global stage!"
Former cricketer VVS Laxman too, spoke highly of the track and field athlete. He mentioned:
"Congratulations Neeraj Chopra on winning the silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Amazing effort to win two back to back olympic medals."
Neeraj Chopra at the Paris Olympics 2024
Neeraj Chopra earned his qualification to the final of the men's javelin throw event on August 6. He registered a throw of 89.34m, which also became his personal best at the qualification stages of the Olympic Games, and made his way to the final.
He struggled in the final, where five of his six shots were adjudged foul throws. Only his second throw was on point and that was enough to fetch him a silver medal.