Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Olympic men’s javelin throw finals

Paris, 6 August. Defending champion Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the Olympic men’s javelin throw finals with the season’s best effort of 89.34m on the first attempt. The 26-year-old crossed the automatic qualifying mark of 84m in his opening throw itself.

The other Indian in the fray, Kishore Jena, is unlikely to make the 12-man final after managing a best throw of 80.73m. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, also qualified for the finals with a throw of 86.59m.

The reigning Olympic and world champion touched down in Paris with a season-best throw of 88.36m at the Doha Diamond League. Neeraj unlocked the national record with his sensational throw of 89.94m at the Stockholm Diamond League back in 2022. The javelin superstar has fired his spear below the 85m mark twice since striking gold for India at the Tokyo Olympics.

Neeraj Chopra tops group standings; Kishore Jena bows out

India’s Kishore Jena was in Group A while Neeraj launched his gold medal bid from Group B on Day 11 of the Summer Games in Paris. Jena punched his tickets for the men’s javelin event in Paris with his throw of 87.54m at the Asian Games last year. However, Jena bowed out of contention with a below-par throw of 80.73m in the Group A qualification. Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch, Germany’s Julian Weber, former world champion Anderson Peters and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem are Neeraj’s top rivals in the men’s javelin final at the Paris Olympics.

Explained: Men’s javelin qualification round

At the Paris Olympics 2024, the men’s javelin throw event is conducted over two rounds—a qualification round and the final medal round. As many as 32 javelin throwers are plying their trade in the men’s edition of the event at the Paris Games. The qualifying rounds have two groups—A and B. Athletes can seal their berth in the final by firing an 84.00m throw, which meets the approved entry standard at the Olympics.

Here’s all you need to know about men’s javelin event at Paris Olympics:

-Defending champion Neeraj Chopra entered the final from Group B with his personal best throw of 89.34m.

-Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem qualified for finals with throw of 86.59m in Group B.

-India’s Kishore Jena ended his qualifier with his third throw (80.21).

-Kenya’s Julius Yego (85.97m) became the 3rd athlete to enter final from Group A.

–Jena fouled his second throw.

-Jakub Vadlejch entered the javelin final with a throw of 85.63

-Julien Weber fired the best throw (87.76) from Group A in the qualification round.

– Kishore breached 80m (80.73) in his 1st attempt.

-Thirty-two athletes competed in Group A and Group B.

-12 athletes qualified for the men’s javelin final at the Paris Olympics.