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The Paris Olympics 2024 men's javelin event witnessed a nail-biting finish, with India's star athlete Neeraj Chopra narrowly missing out on a gold medal. Despite a season-best throw of 89.45m, Chopra had to settle for silver as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem secured the top spot with a mammoth 92.97m throw, breaking the Olympic record in the process. While Chopra's best throw also came in the second attempt, his final four throws all resulted in fouls, raising questions about the reason behind this sudden decline in performance.
Three-time Paralympic medalist Devendra Jhajharia, in an interview with Times of India, offered a possible explanation for Chopra's string of fouls. He suggested that the pressure of competing against Nadeem's exceptional performance led Chopra to push himself beyond his limits, ultimately contributing to the fouls. Jhajharia pointed out that after Nadeem's record-breaking throw, Chopra was in second position with a throw already exceeding 89 meters. Therefore, another throw of similar distance wouldn't have changed his position. However, Chopra seemed to be aiming for a throw surpassing 93 meters, hoping to outdo Nadeem's performance. This extra effort, according to Jhajharia, ultimately resulted in the fouls.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on the gold, Chopra's performance in Paris solidifies his position as one of the world's top javelin throwers. His performance has also fueled anticipation for his potential success at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where he will be aiming for a hat-trick of Olympic medals. Jhajharia, who has seen Chopra's journey firsthand, expressed confidence in the athlete's ability to achieve this feat, highlighting his passion for the sport, his dedication, and his humble nature. Chopra's pursuit of excellence in javelin, combined with his unwavering determination, suggests that he is well-positioned to make history at the next Olympics.
Source: Why Neeraj Chopra's Last 4 Throws In Paris Olympics 2024 Were Fouls? Paralympic Medalist Says...