Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra showed his javelin throw mastery once again at the Federation Cup 2024 championship in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Making his first throw competition appearance in India in three years, Chopra clinched the gold medal in impressive fashion.
Starting off a bit slow, Chopra picked up momentum and seized the lead in the fourth round with a remarkable throw of 82.27 meters. DP Manu from Karnataka came in a close second with an 82.06-meter effort, securing the silver medal. Uttam Balasaheb Patil of Maharashtra grabbed the bronze with a throw of 78.39 meters.
However, Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Jena, considered one of India’s top javelin throwers, didn’t meet expectations this time. Despite his previous impressive performance at the Asian Games with a throw of 87.54 meters, Jena finished fifth with a disappointing throw of 75.49 meters.
Chopra’s presence at the Kalinga Stadium attracted a large crowd, prompting organizers to enhance security measures. However, Chopra expressed his disappointment as he felt restricted from meeting and interacting with his fans as freely as he would have liked.
“People wanted to come and 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 commented after his victorious performance.
Chopra’s stellar performance once again highlights his dominance in javelin throw and his popularity among fans, while also showcasing the need for better arrangements to accommodate the growing interest in the sport.
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