Paris Olympics 2024: 'Have not reached my peak' says Neeraj Chopra after qualifying for men's javelin final in one attempt

Despite qualifying for the men's javelin final in the Paris Olympics in just one attempt and topping the qualifying round with a throw of 89.34m, star athlete Neeraj Chopra said he is yet to achieve his peak as an athlete, which becomes a source of motivation for him.

Reigning Olympic and world champion Chopra also expected a “really good” men’s javelin final, which takes place on Thursday, 8 August.

“It was a good throw. Maybe the biggest ever in qualifying for me. All the throwers look in good shape. The final will be a really good competition for sure,” Chopra said according to Olympics.com after qualifying for the final in one attempt.

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“My biggest motivation is that I always go out to do my best because I know I have not reached my peak.

“I am not yet as good as I would like to be technically or in distance, so I want to improve and throw further,” Chopra added.

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With his stellar performances in the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions including the Olympics, Chopra also wanted to set an example for other Indian athletes.

“And I want to set an example for other Indian athletes so that we can compete here with the best countries in athletics,” Chopra said.

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Chopra had made history in the Tokyo Olympics by winning gold in the men’s javelin event, thereby becoming only the second Indian to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics after shooter Abhinav Bindra, and the first to win a medal in athletics.

The 26-year-old athlete from Haryana has also win a silver and a gold medal in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the World Championships in Eugene and Budapest respectively.

On Thursday, Chopra will be aiming to become the first ever Indian athlete to win back-to-back gold medals at the Olympics, and also help the country successfully defend gold at the Olympics in a sport other than hockey.