Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra Qualifies for Men's Javelin Throw Final with Season-Best 89.34m Throw on 1st Attempt (Watch Video)

Reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra qualified for the men's javelin final at the Paris Olympics with a season-best throw of 89.34 meters on Tuesday, August 6. Chopra achieved this mark on his first attempt, spending just 10 minutes on the field at the Stade de France.

8️⃣9️⃣.3️⃣4️⃣🚀

ONE THROW IS ALL IT TAKES FOR THE CHAMP! #NeerajChopra qualifies for the Javelin final in style 😎

watch the athlete in action, LIVE NOW on #Sports18 & stream FREE on #JioCinema📲#OlympicsonJioCinema#OlympicsonSports18#JioCinemaSports#Javelin#Olympicspic.twitter.com/sNK0ry3Bnc

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) August 6, 2024

Chopra’s throw, which is the second-best of his career, was only behind his personal best of 89.94 meters set at the 2022 World Championships. It also surpassed his previous season-best throw of 88.36 meters recorded at the Doha Diamond League. Notably, it was Chopra's best-ever Olympic throw, improving on his gold-medal-winning 87.58 meters from Tokyo.

In Qualification Group B, Chopra’s effort stood as a warning to the competition, especially as he competed against Julian Weber of Germany, who topped Qualification Group A with a throw of 87.76 meters.

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the 2023 World Championship silver medallist, also secured automatic qualification with a season-best throw of 86.59 meters. Nadeem, who is the only active Asian to have thrown over 90 meters, will be a significant contender in the final on August 8.

Indian athlete Kishore Jena was eliminated after finishing 9th in Qualification Group B with a best effort of 80.73 meters.

The men’s javelin final is shaping up to be a competitive event. Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, set a season-best throw of 88.63 meters. Weber, Nadeem, and Peters are among the top contenders. Other qualifiers include Rio Olympics silver medallist Julius Yego with a season-best 85.97 meters, and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch with 85.63 meters.