File photo of Neeraj Kopra.© AFP
Javelin ace Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal with a throw of 86.69m in her maiden attempt at the Kuorten Games in Finland on Saturday. He finished ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott and Granada’s world champion Anderson Peters. Chopra, who recently set a new national record, got off to a strong start with a throw of 86.69m, which was good enough to beat her rivals. He threw two fouls and was out for the last three throws. This was his second competition after 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 finished third with a best effort of 84.75.
Reigning Asian and world para javelin champion Sandeep Choudhary, who was also training with Chopra at the Cuortaine Olympic Training Centre, also participated in the competition and finished eighth with a best throw of 60.35m.
In rainy conditions, Chopra got off to a good start but was deliberately fouled with his second throw. When he went for his third throw, he had a bad slip, after which he did not throw any more.
Earlier in the week, Chopra won a silver medal at the Pavo Nurmi Games when she broke her own national record with a throw of 89.30m.
His earlier national record was 88.07m which he had set in March last year in Patiala.
Finland’s Olivier Hellender, who won the gold medal at the Pavo Nurmi Games with an effort of 89.83m, did not come after registering his name on Saturday.
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Chopra will next take part in the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League on June 30.
with PTI input
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