World Championships Final: Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Paris Olympics with season-best throw of 88.77m

The reigning Olympic champion propelled it to an impressive distance of 88.77 meters on his very first attempt.

Neeraj Chopra

India's celebrated javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has etched his path to the Paris Olympics 2024 through a remarkable throw at the World Athletics Championships 2023. During the qualifying round in Budapest, Hungary, Chopra unveiled his exceptional abilities with an extraordinary throw of 88.77m – the best of his season.

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The reigning Olympic champion unleashed his javelin with exquisite precision, propelling it to an impressive distance of 88.77 meters on his very first attempt. This towering achievement not only surpassed the qualifying mark of 85.50 meters required for the Paris Games but also secured his berth in the finals of the World Athletics Championships.

It's worth noting that Neeraj Chopra came close to becoming India's first world champion in athletics during the 2022 World Championships in Oregon. However, he settled for a silver medal, narrowly trailing behind Grenada's Anderson Peters.

This triumph still marked a historic moment for India, marking its first-ever silver at the World Athletics Championships, following Anju Bobby George's long jump bronze in Paris back in 2003.

With his throw of 88.77 meters, Neeraj Chopra now ranks as the second-best men's javelin performer of the season. His position is shadowed only by Jakub Vadlejch, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, who achieved a distance of 89.51 meters.

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Notably, the 90-meter barrier remains unbreached this year, setting the stage for Neeraj to potentially make history by surmounting this challenge in the upcoming final.

In addition to his conquests at the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games, the 25-year-old Neeraj Chopra also holds the title of Diamond League champion.

However, the Indian javelin sensation's trophy cabinet is yet to feature the ultimate prize from the World Athletics Championships.

Neeraj will now set his eyes on that elusive gold medal, not only for his personal collection but also for his country as the 12-man final will prove to be a crucial opportunity for him to achieve this remarkable feat.

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