Neeraj Chopra expressed mixed feelings after securing a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, acknowledging that while he was happy with his performance, he was not entirely satisfied. The defending champion conceded that the day belonged to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem.
India’s celebrated javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, showcased his skills in front of an exuberant crowd at the Stade de France, clinching the silver medal with a throw of 89.45 meters. Despite delivering his best performance of the season, Chopra fell short of the top spot, which was claimed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. Nadeem’s remarkable throw of 92.97 meters not only earned him the gold medal but also set a new Olympic record.
Reflecting on the competition, Chopra admitted he was taken aback by Nadeem’s record-breaking throw, which left him in the second position. Although proud of his historic silver, the 26-year-old acknowledged that he “won’t be at peace” until he surpasses his achievement in Paris.
The men’s javelin final began with a slow start, but the atmosphere electrified when Nadeem launched an astonishing throw of 92.97 meters in his second attempt, shattering the previous Olympic record of 90.57 meters set by Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen at the 2008 Beijing Games. Nadeem’s extraordinary performance set a daunting standard that none of the other competitors, including Chopra, could match.
Chopra struggled in the final, managing only one valid throw, ultimately ceding his Olympic crown to Nadeem, who made history as Pakistan’s first Olympic medalist since 1992 in Barcelona.
In his post-event remarks to a private news outlet, Chopra congratulated Nadeem, who he considers a friend, and admitted that this was the first time he had been defeated by the Pakistani athlete in their eight-year rivalry. “I’ve been competing against Arshad since 2016, and this is the first time I’ve lost to him. But credit where it’s due—Arshad worked incredibly hard, and he was better than me tonight. Congratulations to him,” Chopra said.
