File photo of Neeraj Copra.© AFP
Javelin ace Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal at the Kuortane Games in Finland on Saturday after hitting a 86.69m throw on his first attempt. He finished ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott and Grenada world champion Anderson Peters. Chopra, who recently set the new national record, started strong with his 86.69m throw, good enough to outpace his competitors. He committed two foul pitches and opted for the last three pitches. This was only his second competition since the Tokyo Olympics, where he became the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics.
Walcott finished second with a throw of 86.64m, while Peters was third with a best effort of 84.75.
Reigning Asian and world javelin champion Sandeep Chaudhary, who was also training at the Kuortane Olympic Training Center along with Chopra, also took part in the competition, finishing eighth with a best throw of 60.35m.
In rainy conditions, Chopra started well, but made an intentional error on his second throw. He then had a nasty slip when he went for his third pitch, after which he stopped throwing.
Earlier in the week, Chopra won the silver medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games, when he also broke his own national record with a throw of 89.30m.
His previous national record was 88.07m, which he set in March last year in Patiala.
Finnish Oliver Helander, who won gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games with an effort of 89.83m, failed to show up on Saturday despite his name being entered.
promoted
Chopra will then compete in the Stockholm stage of the Diamond League on June 30.
With PTI inputs
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