Federation Cup 2024: Neeraj Chopra Secures Gold, Triumphs Over DP Manu Despite Fierce Competition
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched gold at the Federation Cup on Wednesday (May 15) with a throw of 82.27 meters in his first domestic appearance in three years. The 26-year-old star?initially?struggled in the competition and was in second place after three rounds. However, he surged ahead in the fourth round with a throw of 82.27 meters, securing the lead.?
He opted not to take his final throw, securing the gold as he was already in the lead after DP Manu finished his last attempt and settled for silver.
Chopra finished second at the Doha Diamond League javelin throw event on Friday, narrowly missing the top spot with a throw just two?centimeters?behind Jakub Vadlejch's winning distance of 88.38 meters.
Chopra trailed?Czech?Republic's Vadlejch, who ultimately won the title. Chopra's final attempt fell just 2?centimeters?short of Vadlejch's mark,?resulting in him?failing to defend the title he had won the previous year. Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, secured the third spot with a best throw of 86.62 meters.
Kishore Jena faced disappointment in his Diamond League debut,?being eliminated?after three rounds with a best throw of 76.31 meters.
Vadlejch, who had previously won a silver?in the?Tokyo Olympics and a bronze?in the?2023 World Championships, emerged as a tough competitor for Chopra throughout the event.?In the 2023 Doha Diamond League, Chopra?had?secured victory with a throw of 88.67?meters,?ahead of Vadlejch and Peters.
Chopra's most recent domestic competition was on March 17, 2021, where he secured gold with a throw of 87.80 meters. Since then, he has achieved significant milestones, including winning a historic gold at the Tokyo Olympics, becoming the Diamond League champion in 2022, and claiming the world champion title in 2023. He also successfully defended his Asian Games gold in China.
Despite his numerous achievements, Chopra?is?yet to surpass the 90-meter mark. His personal best and national record?stand at?89.94 meters.
(With agency inputs)
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