Neeraj Chopra in Asian Games 2023 : In a surprising turn of events, Neeraj Chopra, India’s celebrated javelin thrower, found himself in an unusual situation during the Asian Games 2023 men’s javelin throw final. His first throw was invalidated due to a technical glitch, compelling him to take another shot.
During the initial stages of the competition, Neeraj Chopra’s first javelin throw was inexplicably erased from the record books, despite being a valid attempt. Baffled by the situation, Chopra returned to the rest area, expecting to see his distance displayed on the scoreboard. However, after waiting patiently for several minutes, the result remained absent. As a brief pause in the event ensued, Neeraj approached the referees in search of an explanation, only to find them struggling to clarify the situation. After a prolonged deliberation, it was concluded that a technical malfunction had prevented the equipment from calculating the distance of his throw, prompting Neeraj to take another attempt.
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On his fresh first attempt, Neeraj exhibited his prowess with throws of 82.38 meters and 84.49 meters on his second try.
The unusual incident in the men’s javelin event was not the only hiccup. Another Indian athlete, Kishore Jena, faced a similar predicament when his second attempt was initially marked as a foul, despite not infringing any rules. Much like Neeraj, Jena expressed his bewilderment, and eventually, his throw was rightfully recognized as a legitimate attempt.
Throughout the year 2023, Neeraj Chopra delivered outstanding performances on the global stage. At the 2023 Diamond League held in Eugene, Oregon, he secured the second position in the men’s javelin throw event, achieving a notable distance of 83.80 meters. However, he narrowly missed defending his title from the previous year, as the Diamond League Trophy was claimed by Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic, who recorded a throw of 84.24 meters.
Chopra’s remarkable performance continued in the Zurich Diamond League on August 31, 2023, where he finished second with an impressive throw of 85.71 meters, just slightly behind Vadlejch’s winning throw of 85.86 meters. Despite falling short of the top spot, Chopra’s efforts were widely praised, especially considering his recent achievement as a world champion.
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At the World Athletics Championships 2023 held in Budapest, Neeraj Chopra etched his name in history as the first-ever Indian world champion. He clinched the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event with an exceptional throw of 88.17 meters, marking a significant milestone in his career and a historic moment for Indian athletics.
