Neeraj Chopra settles for India’s first silver in Paris 2024 as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem strikes gold with a new Olympic record in javelin throw

It took just two rounds of throws on Thursday night, and the fate of the men’s javelin throw final at the Paris 2024 Olympics seemed to have been sealed.

As crores of Indians brimmed with anticipation for a historic gold repeat, a shiny silver landed on Neeraj Chopra’s lap despite an incredibly gritty effort. On day 13 of the ongoing Olympics, India's golden boy had to settle for silver with a throw of 89.45m, which was very close to his personal best.

However, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem stole the show, setting a new Olympic record and clinching the coveted gold medal. He came up with a sensational throw of 92.97 metres in his second attempt that not only dethroned defending champion Neeraj but also created a new Olympic record. The earlier Olympic record stood at 90.57m in the name of Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway, set during the 2008 Beijing Games.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters claimed bronze with best throw of 88.54 metres in his fourth attempt.

Final moments of javelin throw in Paris 2024

Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, also displayed immense courage and determination throughout the competition. With the sliver in Paris 2024, Neeraj became the fourth Indian athlete to clinch two individual Olympic medals, after shuttler PV Sindhu (one silver, one bronze), wrestler Sushil Kumar (one silver, one bronze) and shooter Manu Bhaker (two bronze).

In the finals, however, reeling under the pressure to beat the record-breaking second throw from Nadeem, Neeraj fouled five times with four consecutive breaches after his second attempt of 89.45 m. In his sixth and final attempt, Nadeem again breached the coveted 90 m mark with an impressive of 91.79m to establish his dominance.

Nadeem's exceptional performance proved to be insurmountable. Despite the disappointment of not defending his title, Chopra's silver medal remains a testament to his unwavering dedication and skill. It also marked India's first silver medal at the Paris Olympics so far.

A new chapter in Indo-Pak sporting rivalry

Nadeem's victory is a monumental moment in Pakistan’s sporting history, being the country’s first Olympics gold in athletics. His record-breaking throw has not only secured him Olympic glory but also marked a new chapter in the Indo-Pak sporting rivalry.

Chopra and Nadeem have added a new dimension to this decades-old sporting narrative, showcasing the spirit of top-class competition and sportsmanship in athletics, which remains an underappreciated field in both countries. The 26-year-old Chopra had never lost to Nadeem in their earlier 10 clashes throughout World and Asian Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games and Olympics.

As the dust settles on this thrilling final, both Chopra and Nadeem have etched their names in the annals of Olympic history. While India celebrates Chopra's silver, the subcontinent as a whole is bowing to the extraordinary talent displayed by both athletes.

(With inputs from agencies)

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