Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra returned to Indian soil with a bang, clinching gold at the Federation Cup 2024 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. This marks his first javelin throw competition in India in three years, captivating fans and reaffirming his dominance in the sport.
Chopra, who recently secured a silver medal at the Doha Diamond League, started the competition on a slower note. However, he surged ahead in the fourth round with a remarkable throw of 82.27 meters, securing the gold medal. His performance not only thrilled the spectators at Kalinga Stadium but also highlighted his unwavering prowess.
DP Manu, representing Karnataka, closely followed Chopra with an impressive 82.06-meter throw, earning the silver medal. Maharashtra’s Uttam Balasaheb Patil took the bronze with a throw of 78.39 meters. Notably, Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Jena, who had a stellar performance in 2023 with an 87.54-meter throw, fell short this time, finishing fifth with a disappointing 75.49-meter effort.
Neeraj Chopra’s presence at the event significantly heightened security measures, given the influx of fans eager to see him in action. “People wanted to come to meet me, and they were being stopped. I was not feeling good. Earlier, I was meeting a lot of people, and they were allowed to come and meet me,” Chopra remarked post-competition, emphasizing the balance athletes must maintain between fan engagement and focus.
Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla expressed high hopes for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024, optimistic that India could surpass its Tokyo Olympics medal tally. “We can no doubt perform better in the Paris Olympics than in Tokyo. We can win more medals in Paris,” he stated confidently.
Neeraj Chopra’s triumphant return and the AFI’s optimism set a promising tone for Indian athletics as they gear up for the global stage.
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