[Watch] Neeraj Chopra throws a massive 89.34m, qualifies for Olympics final with just one throw
August 8, 2024 is going to be a day when 1.4 billion Indians will cheer for Neeraj Chopra when he will take the pitch in the final of men's javelin throw event. India has faced a few upsets in the last few days but now has a reason to smile as Neeraj Chopra has successfully qualified for the final of the event in just one throw.
Neeraj Chopra entered the qualification stages on Tuesday (August 6) as a heavy favorite to qualify. He logged a throw of 89.34m which is now his personal best at any qualification stage across all competitions. Moreover, it was also his all-time second-best throw in the men's javelin event behind his personal best of 89.94m.
Watch how Neeraj Chopra threw his javelin into the pitch which ignited the fire inside the Indians who are now waiting for another gold medal from Chopra.
Neeraj Chopra keeps gold medal hopes alive for India
India has only won three medals so far at the Paris Games and finished on the fourth spot, narrowly missing the podium on numerous occasions. Speaking of the medals, Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kusale have won bronze.
However, the Indian hockey team, Neeraj Chopra and even Avinash Sable can bring in medals to increase India's medal tally. In the Tokyo Olympics, the country won seven medals, with just one gold. The ministry had high expectations this time out with 10 medals but some athletes faltered and succumbed to pressure.
For example, Lakshya Sen, who had dominated most of his games in the Paris Olympics men's badminton event, went down to Malaysia's Lee Jii Zia in the bronze-medal match despite leading the first game. It saw an outburst from his mentor Prakash Padukone, who claimed that athletes should introspect their game and work even harder as they have defeated similar opponents in other tournaments but are going down to them at the Olympic Games.
A loss to Zia meant Lakshya Sen returned home empty-handed despite being one of the best performers at the quadrennial event, even earning the praise of eventual gold medalist Viktor Axelsen.