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First throw perfect but will need to improve in finals: Neeraj
javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra
Into the finals with a "perfect throw", trailblazing javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday said he will need the same performance with a higher score to be in contention for India's maiden track-and-field medal at the Olympic Games here.
Tokyo : Into the finals with a "perfect throw", trailblazing javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday said he will need the same performance with a higher score to be in contention for India's maiden track-and-field medal at the Olympic Games here.
The 23-year-old Chopra became the first Indian javelin thrower to enter the finals of the Games with a big throw of 86.65m that put him on the top of the Group A qualification. He took just a few seconds to make that cut, sending the spear well past the direct qualifying mark of 83.50m in his first attempt.
"I am at my first Olympic Games, and I feel very good. In warm-up my performance wasn't so good, but then (in the qualifying round) my first throw had a good angle, and was a perfect throw," Chopra said after his event.
Chopra is, however, under no illusion that the final will be a totally different contest where the world's best will go for podium finish. "It will be a different feeling (in the finals), since it is my first time in the Olympics. Physically we (all) train hard, and are ready, but I also need to prepare mentally.
"I will need to focus on the throw, and try to repeat this (performance) with a higher score," he said. Chopra's performance on Saturday will go down as one of the best performances by an Indian in the Olympics. He finished ahead of gold medal favourite and 2017 world champion Johannes Vetter of Germany.
The reigning Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist had been short of preparations in the run-up to the Olympics with just three international events, out of which only one -- Kuortane Games in Finland -- was of top-class level where Vetter took the gold and he finished third.
This was Chopra's seventh best throw and third best of the season 2021. His earlier six best throws are 88.07m (March 2021; Indian GP-3), 88.06m (2018, Asian Games), 87.87m (January 2020; ACNW Meeting in South Africa), 87.80m (March 2021; Federation Cup), 87.43m (May 2018, Doha Diamond League) and 86.79 (June 2021; Kuortane Games).
