Neeraj Chopra Disappointed with Silver, Vows to Improve

Despite securing the second-best throw of his career, Indian Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra expressed dissatisfaction with his performance after claiming the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Chopra’s lone valid attempt of 89.45 meters was not enough to surpass Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who shattered the Olympic record with a monumental 92.97-meter throw. The Indian star attributed his subpar performance to technical issues and a lack of consistency.

“I’m not happy with my performance today,” Chopra said. “My technique and runway were off, resulting in only one valid throw. I had the belief I could match Arshad’s distance, but a poor run-up hindered my efforts.”

The 26-year-old, a reigning world and Asian Games champion, also revealed that persistent injuries had hampered his preparations for the Paris Olympics. “The last few years have been challenging due to injuries. I tried my best, but I need to focus on staying healthy and refining my technique,” he added.

Chopra’s adductor muscle issues forced him to miss several competitions, including the Ostrava Golden Spike. He plans to consult with medical experts to address the recurring problem after the Olympics.

Despite the silver medal, Chopra congratulated his rival and friend, Arshad Nadeem, on his historic victory. “Arshad threw exceptionally well. Congratulations to him and Pakistan,” he said.

Nadeem’s gold medal marked Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold and its first medal since the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Neeraj has vowed to work hard and prepare for the next big event. Cleary dissatisfied but Chopra understood the dynamics of being an athelete. While he was suffering from a groin injury, his effort was praiseworthy nonetheless.

This is India’s first silver medal at Paris Olympics. Now India stands at 66th position in the Olympics medal table.

Chopra’s silver medal win, while commendable, leaves a sense of unfulfilled potential. With time to recover and improve, the Indian star will undoubtedly be aiming to reclaim the Olympic title at the next Games.