NEW DELHI: Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra admitted that he was unable to perform at his absolute best during the Paris Olympics, where he secured the silver medal. Despite his best efforts, Chopra’s throw of 89.45 meters was not enough to defend his title from the previous Olympics.
In a virtual press conference, the 26-year-old athlete revealed that while he was mentally prepared for the competition, he felt he was lacking in physical readiness.
Chopra acknowledged that his legwork during the final was not up to his usual standards, which may have contributed to his inability to push himself to his limits.”I never thought I couldn’t do it… Arshad Nadeem‘s previous best was at 90.18 metres which he threw at the Commonwealth Games, and my previous best was 89.94 metres… I couldn’t push myself to my extreme. Mentally I was ready but physically, I was retraining myself. My legwork on the runway was not how it should have been. My efforts were going in vain. My throw immediately after Nadeem’s throw was good because I was extremely positive…,” Neeraj said.
Neeraj also said that he will participate in the Lausanne Diamond League, which will kick off on August 22.
In a virtual press conference, the 26-year-old athlete revealed that while he was mentally prepared for the competition, he felt he was lacking in physical readiness.
Chopra acknowledged that his legwork during the final was not up to his usual standards, which may have contributed to his inability to push himself to his limits.”I never thought I couldn’t do it… Arshad Nadeem‘s previous best was at 90.18 metres which he threw at the Commonwealth Games, and my previous best was 89.94 metres… I couldn’t push myself to my extreme. Mentally I was ready but physically, I was retraining myself. My legwork on the runway was not how it should have been. My efforts were going in vain. My throw immediately after Nadeem’s throw was good because I was extremely positive…,” Neeraj said.
Neeraj also said that he will participate in the Lausanne Diamond League, which will kick off on August 22.
“… I have finally decided to participate in the Lausanne Diamond League, which begins August 22,” he added.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem emerged victorious in the javelin throw event, clinching the gold medal with an impressive throw of 92.97 meters.
His remarkable performance not only earned him the top spot on the podium but also etched his name in the record books, as he surpassed the previous Olympic record set by Denmark’s Andreas Thorkildsen at the Beijing 2008 Games.
The battle for the bronze medal was intense, with Anderson Peters from Grenada showcasing his skills and determination.
Peters’ best throw of 88.54 meters was enough to secure him the third place, rounding out the podium in this highly competitive event.