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Neeraj Chopra scripts history in 1st event after Olympics, achieves new national record at Paavo Nurmi Games

Neeraj Chopra on Tuesday achieved a new national world record at Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland. Scripting history in his first international tournament after Tokyo Olympics 2020, Chopra bagged silver position with a throw of 89.30 metres. Oliver Helander of Finland bagged the gold medal in the tournament with his second throw of 89.83 metres.

TN Sports Desk

Updated Jun 15, 2022, 07:03 IST

Neeraj Chopra (File image)

Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Neeraj Chopra achieved a new national record at Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland.
The 24-year-old Olympics gold medalist bagged silver position with his career's best throw of 89.30 metres.
Oliver Helander of Finland won gold medal with his second throw of 89.83 metres.

Helsinki: Neeraj Chopra on Tuesday scripted history in his first international tournament after Tokyo Olympics 2020. Chopra achieved a new national world record at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland with his career's best throw of 89.30 metres. The 24-year-old Olympic gold medalist bagged a silver medal in the tournament.

Chopra started with a throw of 86.92 metres and then followed it up with his career-best throw. Notably, next three attempts of Chopra were all fouls and in his sixth attempt he managed a throw of 85.85 metres. Chopra's earlier national record was 88.07 metres. He set this record in Patiala in March last year.

Finland's 25-year-old Oliver Helander won the gold medal in the tournament with his second throw of 89.83 metres. Reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic also participated in the 10-athlete men's javelin throw competition which was held in Finland's Turku.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra's gold medal not enough as foreign javelin throw coaches reluctant to travel to India due to COVID

Peters was the pre-event favourite with his world leading monster throw of 93.07 metres during the the Doha Diamond League last month. However, in this tournament he finished third with a throw of 86.60 metres. 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago finished fourth.

Johannes Vetter of Germany did not took part in the tournament. Chopra's arch-rival Vetter crossed 90-mark five times before the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Chopra will now take part in the Kourtane Games in Finland on Saturday

The Paavo Nurmi Games are named after the legendary Finnish middle and long distance runner. It was first held in 1957. It is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series event, one of the most prestigious competitions outside the Diamond League Meetings.

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