Neeraj Chopra Olympics Qualification Group: Which group will the defending champion be a part of in the qualifications and what time will they play?
Neeraj Chopra begins his title defense in the javelin throw event at the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 6. The qualifications for this event are scheduled on Tuesday, with the final taking place on Thursday, August 8. As the defending champion, Neeraj will compete in the Group B qualification round, which starts at 3:20 PM IST. His compatriot, Kishore Jena, is placed in Group A and will begin at 1:50 PM IST.
Chopra began his year with an impressive 88.36m throw at the Doha Diamond League in April, marking his best performance of the year. He then competed at the Federation Cup, achieving a throw of 82.27m.
Following that, The Tokyo Olympics 2020 gold medalist won the Paavo Nurmi Games with a throw of 85.97m. Despite these successes, his winning throws at the Federation Cup and Paavo Nurmi Games were among the lowest distances he has recorded since becoming the Olympic champion.
This year, Chopra's focus was to prioritize his health over frequent competition. He competed in only three events leading up to Paris.
Neeraj Chopra had an adductor niggle earlier this year but insisted that he wasn’t injured. He took a precautionary break from competitions, skipping the Ostrava Golden Spike in late May and the Paris Diamond League in July to ensure his fitness for the Olympics.
Neeraj Chopra's key competitors in Group B
Neeraj Chopra will face stiff competition in Group B with the likes of Max Dehning, Arshad Nadeem, and Anderson Peters all competing.
# Max Dehning (Germany)
Max Dehning may not be in top form, but the 19-year-old German has crossed the 90m mark, a feat Neeraj has yet to achieve. Dehning's potential to throw long distances makes him a formidable opponent.
# Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan)
Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj's good friend and the strongest rival in Asia, also poses a significant challenge. Neeraj had beaten Nadeem at the 2023 World Championships. The Pakistani thrower, who has also surpassed the 90m mark, is making a comeback from injury and will be keen to prove himself.
# Anderson Peters (Grenada)
Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, is another serious contender. Despite a poor season in 2023, Peters has already thrown 86.62m this season and is hungry to regain his top form.