Paris Olympics | Neeraj Chopra clinches silver in javelin throw

Gold eluded defending champion Neeraj Chopra as he signed off with a silver in the Olympics men's javelin throw event, while Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem ruled the field with a new Games record of 92.97m in Paris on Thursday (August 8).

The 26-year-old Chopra, who has never lost to Nadeem in their earlier 10 meetings, took the silver with his second-round throw of 89.45m. Three years ago, he won gold in Tokyo with a throw of 87.58m.

The season's best effort was the Indian's only legitimate throw of the evening.

Monster throw by Arshad Nadeem

Nadeem's monster effort – sixth longest in history – also came in his second attempt which was like a bolt from the blue that stunned the Stade de France. He is the first individual Olympic gold medallist from Pakistan.

The earlier Olympic record stood at 90.57m, set by Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway during the 2008 Beijing Games. Nadeem also signed off in style with a closing throw of 91.79m.

Neeraj is only the fourth Indian to win multiple Olympic medals since Independence, joining shuttler PV Sindhu (one silver, one bronze), wrestler Sushil Kumar (one silver, one bronze), and shooter Manu Bhaker (two bronze), who have won two Olympic medals each.

Chopra blames injury

Nadeem’s astonishing 92.97m in his second attempt set the bar too high for the rest of the field, including Chopra, who seemed under pressure and managed just one legitimate throw – the silver-winning 89.45m in the second round. It was the season's best effort from the Indian, topping his qualification throw of 89.34m, but nowhere close to being enough for gold.

Chopra said he was largely thinking about his injury (adductor niggle) when he was going for his throws.

"Whenever I throw, 60-70 per cent focus is on injury. My runway was not good today, my speed was also low. Whatever I have done, I have done with this issue. I didn't have time for surgery. I was just pushing myself," he said later.

"There is a lot left in me. I have to do that. I have that feeling that I can do it. Unless I achieve that, I won't be at peace," he told reporters.

Nonetheless, Chopra became only the third Indian and the first in track and field to win back-to-back individual Olympic medals.

Anderson Peters wins bronze

Grenada's Anderson Peters grabbed the last podium place with an effort of 88.54m while Czech Republic's Yakub Vadlejch finished fourth (88.50m) and was followed by Kenya's Julius Yego (SB 87.72).

As many as seven athletes went beyond the 86m mark as the competitive field saw three season's best and an Olympic record.

Keshorn Walcot (86.16) from Trinidad and Tobago also celebrated his season's best show to finish seventh in the 12-man field.

Before tonight, Chopra had never lost to Nadeem in their 10 earlier meetings.

With his monster throw, Nadeem, 27, also extracted revenge of his loss to Chopra in the 2023 Budapest World Championships.

Lost to Arshad for first time since 2010: Chopra

"I have been competing with Arshad since 2010 and lost to him for first time (today). It's a sport, we have to accept it. We will try to maintain Asian supremacy till we have strength in our body. I have learnt that mindset is the biggest thing," Chopra said.

It was not the first 90m effort from Nadeem, having thrown 90.18m to win gold in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

He is the second Asian to have thrown beyond 90m, the other being Chao-Tsun Cheng (91.36m in 2017) of Chinese Taipei.

Chopra did not take part in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games due to an injury.

Nadeem was to compete with Chopra in the Hangzhou Asian Games in October last year but pulled out at the last minute due to an injury.

He was beaten by Chopra in the 2018 Asian Games and 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Nadeem had come into the Olympics with just one competition under his belt -- an 84.21m throw at the Paris Diamond League last month.

Congratulations pour in; ‘excellence personified,’ says PM

Hailing Chopra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu said his feat will inspire the future generations in pursuit of excellence.

“Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again he’s shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success. Congratulations to him on winning the Silver," Modi wrote on X.

"He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams and make our nation proud."

President Murmu said the country would look forward to more medals from Chopra.

"Heartiest congratulations to Neeraj Chopra on winning silver medal in Paris Olympics and scripting history. He is the first Indian athlete to win a gold and a silver medal in two successive Olympic Games. India is proud of him. His feat will inspire generations to come. India looks forward to Neeraj Chopra bringing home more medals and glory in the future."

Star pistol shooter Manu Bhaker, who created history by becoming the first Indian to win two medals in a single edition of the Olympics in the Paris Games, also lauded Chopra for his feat.

"ONWARDS AND UPWARDS! He has done it once again, this time in Paris. @Neeraj_chopra1 you are truly one in a million. Congratulations on yet another medal at the Olympics!!" Bhaker posted on X.

"Back-to-back Olympic medals for our star, Neeraj Chopra! India's first silver medal at the #Paris2024 Olympics, and what a way to achieve it! You might have fallen short of the gold, but your commitment and effort in the final were really inspiring!" BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on his X handle.

Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir said, "The icon never returns without bringing joy to every Indian!#NeerajChopra." Several union ministers, chief ministers of the states and other politicians also lauded Chopra's feat.

‘Not disappointed at all,’ says Chopra’s family

Chopra's family said they were not at all disheartened that he couldn't defend his Olympics gold and instead said that they were proud of his feat of winning a second consecutive medal for the country.

"The environment is joyful in the entire nation. We are very happy that we have won silver medal. This is the hard work of that boy and the nation's blessing is with him that he won medal for the second time," said Chopra's father Satish Kumar.

His mother Saroj Devi added: "He (Neeraj Chopra) has done very well and we will give him a grand welcome upon his return. He loves churma, so, we will make it for him."

Chopra's aunt Kamlesh also lauded his effort.

"We are extremely happy, he (Neeraj Chopra) did his best despite the tough competition. It's not about winning a gold or silver, but about winning a medal, and he did his best," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)