Finance
Neeraj Chopra made an impressive return to competitive action, breaking his own national record to win the men’s javelin throw silver medal at the 2022 Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland.
On Tuesday, the 24-year-old Chopra set a new personal best and national record with a throw of 89.30m, finishing second to Finland’s Oliver Helander, who won gold with a throw of 89.83m.
Anderson Peters of Grenada, the reigning world champion and world leader for the 2022 season, took bronze with 86.60m. Neeraj’s first competition since winning the historic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 in August last year was in Finland.
“Very nice competition, and I am very happy for my personal best and national record. Oliver (Helander) had very good technique today. I tried maybe too much, because that was my first competition of this season. I will compete next in Kuortane after four days,” Chopra said.
With an impressive 86.92m opening throw, the 24-year-old Indian made a statement of intent. In his second attempt, he jumped 89.30m, breaking his previous personal best and national record of 88.07m set at the Indian Grand Prix 3 in March of last year.
However, the Indian failed to record a legitimate attempt in his next three attempts before finishing with an 85.85. His second throw, however, was good enough for a silver medal, according to olympics.com.
Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago finished fourth in the 10-man field with 84.02m, while Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic finished sixth with 83.91m.
After Turku, Neeraj will stay in Finland to compete in the Kuortane Games before heading to Sweden for the Diamond League’s Stockholm leg.
