Paavo Nurmi Games 2024: Fans cheer as Neeraj Chopra secures gold with 85.97m throw
The 26-year-old outpaced local favourites Toni Keranen (84.19m) and Oliver Helander (83.96m), who finished second and third respectively.
Updated : June 19, 2024 12:02 AM ISTThe 26-year-old outpaced local favourites Toni Keranen (84.19m) and Oliver Helander (83.96m), who finished second and third respectively.
Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra did what he is best known for—winning gold medals. He achieved this once again with a resounding victory in the men's javelin throw event at the 2024 Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on Tuesday (June 18). The reigning Olympic and World champion threw 85.97m on his third attempt, securing the top spot.
ALSO READ | Federation Cup 2024 - Neeraj Chopra bags GOLD on his return to India, fans flood X with praises
Seeing the star win another gold medal excited fans, who took to social media, particularly X (formerly known as Twitter), to praise him, especially with the Paris Olympics just weeks away.
🥇🇮🇳 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗢𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞! His 3rd throw of 85.97m secured him the gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024.
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) June 18, 2024
🎯 #𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗗 ⏳
📷 Getty • #NeerajChopra #PaavoNurmiGames #TeamIndia #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/Ewhvrc11BT
THE GOLDEN THROW. ✨🤩#NeerajChopra #PaavoNurmiGames #TeamIndia #BharatArmy pic.twitter.com/NYAJ9nbgIL
— The Bharat Army (@thebharatarmy) June 18, 2024
NEERAJ TAKES THR LEAD BACK 🤩🔥
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) June 18, 2024
His 3rd Attempt is 85.97m 🙌#NeerajChopra #Paris2024 https://t.co/Zvs4NPNlTG pic.twitter.com/bspalsQy3B
Neeraj Chopra is proving to be greatest Indian Athlete Ever!
— Ishkaran Singh Bhandari (@ishkarnBHANDARI) June 18, 2024
Golden Arm & Diamond Consistency pic.twitter.com/VSGvj5BA2V
In the same venue in 2022, Chopra finished in second place with a throw of 89.30 meters, while local athlete Helander won that competition. Chopra initially took the lead with an 83.62m throw in the first round, but Helander briefly surpassed him with his second attempt. Chopra reclaimed the lead with his decisive third throw, which remained unmatched.
Continuing his strong performance, Chopra recorded throws of 82.21m and 82.97m in subsequent attempts, with a foul on his penultimate throw. This event in Finland marked Chopra's third competition of the 2024 season, following appearances at the Doha Diamond League and the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar in May.
He had withdrawn from the Ostrava Golden Spike Meet as a precaution before returning to form in Turku. He will next be in action at the Paris Diamond League which will take place on July 7.
Locked in 🔐
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) June 18, 2024
Olympic and world champ @Neeraj_chopra1 secures his win in Turku with a throw at 85.97 💪#ContinentalTourGold pic.twitter.com/liBsllvyhL
The 26-year-old outpaced local favourites Toni Keranen (84.19m) and Oliver Helander (83.96m), who finished second and third respectively. His longtime rival Anderson Peters finished fourth with a throw of 82.58m.
Fifth place went to Andrian Mardare of Moldova, who threw 82.19 meters with the 19-year-old German Max Dehning, who set a record-breaking throw of 90.20 meters in February, was unable to reach the 80-meter threshold and ended up sixth with 79.84 meters.