Paris Olympics 2024: Neeraj Chopra falls short of Gold to get Silver; Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem's 92.97m secures top spot

While Neeraj Chopra is not entirely satisfied with his performance in the men's Javelin Throw final at the Paris Olympics 2024, he secured the silver medal with a throw of 89.45m on his second attempt at the Stade de France in Paris. This is India's first silver medal at the ongoing Paris Olympics. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m to win the gold medal. 

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The record for the best throw in an Olympic final was held by Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen, who set it in 2008 during the Beijing Olympics with a throw of 90.57 meters. Twice throughout the competition, Nadeem exceeded this threshold as he also threw 91.79 meters on his last try. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Nadeem had already surpassed the 90-meter mark. Grenada's two-time world champion Anderson Peters (personal best 93.07m) peaked at the right moment to win the bronze medal with a throw of 88.54m.

Neeraj Chopra secures his second Olympic medal! 🥈🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/qUq4NVyQxx

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 8, 2024

PM Narendra Modi posted a tweet about him stating how Neeraj will "continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes".

Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again he’s shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success. Congratulations to him on winning the Silver. He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams… pic.twitter.com/XIjfeDDSeb

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 8, 2024

Fans flooded X (formerly known as Twitter) to praise the Indian for clinching the silver medal and making millions of Indians happy.

Back-to-back Olympic medals for our star, Neeraj Chopra! 🥈India's first silver medal at the #Paris2024 Olympics, and what a way to achieve it! You might have fallen short of the gold, but your commitment and effort in the final were really inspiring! 🇮🇳#Olympics ||… pic.twitter.com/NLldsF7Y8R

— Jay Shah (@JayShah) August 8, 2024

Two Olympics, two medals. One man, NEERAJ CHOPRA! 🥈 pic.twitter.com/VriVW9VEFF

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) August 8, 2024

🥇- South Asian Games.
🥇- Asian Championship.
🥇- CWG 2018.
🥇- Asian Games.
🥇- Tokyo Olympics.
🥇- Diamond League.
🥈- World Championships.
🥇- World Championships.
🥈- Diamond League.
🥇- Asian Games.
🥈- Paris Olympics.

NEERAJ CHOPRA - THE GOAT ATHELETE...!!! 🤯🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/NlWEeJfY5Q

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 8, 2024

Gold in Tokyo. Silver in Paris. Heera forever! 🇮🇳👏

Thank you, Neeraj Chopra ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HXHxOC821z

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) August 8, 2024

Silver in Paris 🥈
Gold in Tokyo 🥇

Finishing top 2 in consecutive #Olympics, Neeraj Chopra you're a true fighter. 🔝 Congratulations on this exemplary feat, the whole country is proud of you! 🇮🇳❤️#PlayBold #TeamIndia #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Y7L7TqjyVm

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) August 8, 2024

Neeraj Chopra's Road to Silver:

Everyone thought the 26-year-old would be on the podium after he threw an 89.34-meter throw in the qualification round, but it appeared that the weight of the gold would eventually catch up to him. Except for his 89.45 meters, none of his previous throws were recorded as he either stepped on the line deliberately or lost his balance. 

Manu Bhaker (two bronze medals), wrestler Sushil Kumar (silver, bronze), and shuttler PV Sindhu (silver, bronze) are the only three Indians to have won multiple medals at the Olympics.

Talking about group events, the Indian men's hockey team also clinched back-to-back bronze medals marking the first time in 52 years that India has achieved this feat. The last time India won back-to-back hockey medals at the Olympics was in 1968 and 1972.

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