Tokyo Olympics 2020: First throw perfect but will need to improve in the finals – Neeraj Chopra

India’s Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has had a perfect debut at the Olympics. There have been huge expectations from Chopra and he was able to stand tall to them as he threw 86.65 metres in his first throw. Thus, Chopra has become the first Indian Javelin thrower to qualify for the final of the event in the Olympics.

In fact, the qualifying mark was 83.50 metres and the 23-year old was able to send the spear well over the mark to make his way into the final. Furthermore, Chopra’s maiden throw of 86.65 metres was enough to put him on the top of Group A qualification.

Meanwhile, Chopra stated that his first throw was perfect but he understands that he will need to improve in the finals to increase his chance of bagging the medal. This was Chopra’s seventh best throw and his third best of 2021.

“I am at my first Olympic Games, and I feel very good. In warm-up my performance wasn’t so good, but then (in the qualifying round) my first throw had a good angle, and was a perfect throw,” Chopra said after his event as quoted by PTI.

Chopra knows that the competition will be even higher in the finals as the world-class athletes will look to clinch the medal.

“It will be a different feeling (in the finals), since it is my first time in the Olympics. Physically we (all) train hard, and are ready, but I also need to prepare mentally. “I will need to focus on the throw, and try to repeat this (performance) with a higher score,” he said.

In fact, Chopra was able to finish ahead of Germany’s Johannes Vetter, who is a Gold medal favourite and the 2017 World Champion. Vetter had earlier said that Chopra will find it difficult to beat him.

Chopra will be in action in the final of the Javelin throw, which will be played on 7th August, 4:30 PM IST.