Paris: Neeraj Chopra, the silver medalist in the Javelin Throw at the Paris Olympics, expressed his sentiments on Friday, acknowledging that while he had given his utmost effort, it was Arshad Nadeem's turn to secure the gold.
Chopra mentioned the necessity of evaluating his performance and focusing on areas for future enhancement.
"The joy of winning a medal for our country is unparalleled. It is now time to elevate the standards of our sport. We will convene to discuss and improve our collective performance," Chopra stated.
He acknowledged the competitiveness of the event, noting that each athlete has their moment of triumph, and that "today was Arshad's moment." Chopra attributed his silver medal to a best throw of 89.45 meters, achieved on his second attempt, though a series of fouls limited his potential for a gold victory.
Chopra remained optimistic about India's prospects in future Olympic competitions, stating, "Our performance at the Paris Olympics was commendable. Although our national anthem was not played today, it will undoubtedly be heard in the future."
Chopra's silver medal was the second for an Indian athlete in an individual event since independence.
In a display of national pride, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem clinched gold with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters, eclipsing the previous record set by Andreas Thorkildsen of Denmark at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Anderson Peters of Grenada secured the bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters.
In a previous round, Chopra had achieved a throw of 89.34 meters, which remains his personal best. Despite a competitive rivalry with Nadeem, who had a 9-0 record against him, Nadeem's throw of 90.18 meters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games surpassed Chopra's previous record.
