Neeraj Chopra REVEALS why he lost to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem at Paris Olympics 2024: 'Since 2018 I have...'

Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra remains one of the world’s finest athletes, with an illustrious career that includes Olympic and World Championship gold medals. However, the question of whether he can breach the 90m mark in official competitions still looms large.

Neeraj became a national hero after winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics and cemented his legacy with a World Championship gold and silver. Expectations were high for him to defend his title at the Paris Olympics 2024. During the qualifiers, he recorded a season-best throw of 89.34m, securing a direct entry to the finals. However, in the finals, his best throw of 89.45m earned him a silver medal, falling short to his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, who clinched gold with a record-breaking 92.97m throw.

Reflecting on the pressure after Tokyo, Neeraj said during an interview with Lallantop, “I don’t let past victories pressure me. I focus on what I can achieve today. A good mental and physical state is key to delivering big throws.”

Injury struggles, however, have hindered Neeraj’s progress. Speaking about his groin injury, he revealed in the interview, “Since 2018, I’ve felt capable of a big throw, but the pain has held me back. Despite consistency with 88m and 89m throws, the injury has stalled my career. Surgery might help, but it’s risky, and I’m focusing on strengthening the area instead.”

As he prepares for the new season, fans eagerly await the moment when Neeraj Chopra breaks the 90m barrier—a milestone that would solidify his place among the greatest javelin throwers of all time.