Indian javelin throw ace and Olympic champion, Neeraj Chopra, is set to participate in the upcoming edition of the Paavo Nurmi Games, scheduled to take place on June 18, 2024. This competition will be Chopra’s second of the year, following his participation in the Doha Diamond League on May 10.
Neeraj Chopra’s impressive campaign at Paavo Nurmi Games
Chopra, who has made India proud on numerous occasions, has a history of impressive performances at the Paavo Nurmi Games. In 2022, he won a silver medal with a throw of 89.30m, which was a personal best for him at the time. He later surpassed this record with a throw of 89.94m at the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League in the same year, setting a new national record.
The Paavo Nurmi Games, named after the Finnish middle-distance and long-distance runner known as the “Flying Finn”, is Finland’s top track and field competition in summer. The event has been held annually since 1957 and is a Continental Tour Gold meet, a top-tier World Athletics event.
The upcoming games will feature other top javelin throw stars from around the world. Some of the big names on the entry list include Germany’s Julian Weber and Max Dehning. Dehning, who became the youngest javelin thrower to breach the coveted 90m mark earlier this year, is also expected to compete in Turku this year. Dehning’s 90.20m is the world-leading mark this year.
#NeerajChopra will compete at the Paavo Nurmi Games on June 18.
This is likely to be his 2nd competition of 2024: he begins his season at the Doha DL on May 10.
It'll be exciting to see him compete against the world's latest javelin sensation – Max Dehning.#IndianAthletics pic.twitter.com/MGkDFw7S0a
— Shyam Vasudevan (@JesuisShyam) April 10, 2024
Chopra and Dehning will have a showdown at the event. This competition will provide Chopra with an opportunity to assess his preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics as he will compete against the world’s leading athletes.
Also Read: Batra-Gnanasekaran eyes for Paris quota at World Olympic Qualification event
