While the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics less than six months away, India’s expectations on the medal tally makes a huge leap forward as the sensational Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra makes a breakthrough in the qualifier event. Returning from an injury, the youngster dominated in the competitive event, broke the 85 metre mark and secured top position at the Athletics Central North East meeting.
Yesterday at the Kenneth McArthur Stadium in South Africa, Neeraj Chopra finished on top of the qualifier table with a staggering throw distance of 87.86 metres, heaps ahead of the second place Rohit Yadav, his fellow compatriot who managed 77.61 metres.
After an elbow injury last year, Chopra missed the 2019 IAAF World Championships, the Diamond League and the Asian Championships, as the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) did not grant him clearance. However, a stunning comeback of yesterday is setting the national record holder’s aim straight at the grand event in July.
The 22 year old posted a video on himself in action on his official Twitter handle, along with a caption: “87.86 mtr Feeling super awesome to be back in the competition mode. Thank you everyone for your good wishes and supporting me always 🙏जय हिंद🇮🇳(Jai Hind)” Check it out below-
87.86 mtr
Feeling super awesome to be back in the competition mode.
Thank you everyone for your good wishes and supporting me always🙏जय हिंद 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/gO8iCMG8Di— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) January 28, 2020
“I’m happy with the result as I went in to the competition with THE mindset to warm up for the season. Once I did well with the first three throws (all being above 80m), I decided to push a bit harder in the fourth attempt,” Chopra told interviewers after the qualifier.
Hailing from Panipat, Haryana, Chopra made his breakthrough at international level in 2016, after securing a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati and Shillong. At the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships at Bydgoszcz, Poland, he clinched his second gold of the year after setting a world junior record of 86.48 metres.
In 2018, the starlet set the national record of 88.06 metres at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang. Chopra bagged three more gold medals the same year, at 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, at the Sotteville-lès-Rouen International Athletics Meeting and also at the Savo Games in the Gulf of Lapland, Finland.
Chopra’s confirmation on the qualification results was also confirmed by the athlete’s managing brand JSW Sports today morning on Twitter.
🔔Tokyo 2020 ✅@Neeraj_chopra1 qualifies for @Tokyo2020 with a throw of 87.86m at the Athletics Central North East Meeting held at Kenneth McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom, 🇿🇦. @afiindia
Way to go, champ! 🔥#BetterEveryday #JSWSports #Tokyo2020
— JSW Sports (@jswsports) January 29, 2020
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