Neeraj Chopra once again made India proud at the Olympics, this time securing a Silver medal in the men's javelin throw event. Neeraj did this with his season-best throw of 89.45m, a significant improvement on his gold medal-winning throw of 87.58 from Tokyo 2020. 

In fact, this was Neeraj's second-best recorded throw, just behind the 89.94 he threw at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022.

At just 26 years old, Neeraj has etched his name in history as the first track and field athlete from Independent India to win two Olympic medals.

It was a highly competitive final, far more so than Tokyo 2020. To put it in perspective, Julius Yego, who finished fifth at Paris, would have won the gold medal for his throw of 87.72m in Tokyo.

Neeraj marked an impressive throw of 89.45 meters on his second attempt, a distance that would virtually guaranteed a podium finish. However, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem delivered an extraordinary throw of 92.97 meters, setting not only a new personal best but also the Olympic record in javelin throw. 

Nadeem's victory made him the first athlete from Pakistan to win a Gold medal in an individual event at the Olympics. This was also their first Olympic medal since 1992!

Neeraj's Silver medal is a testament to his consistency and excellence on the global stage. Despite his success, Neeraj expressed some disappointment with his performance, stating that he didn't feel at his best during the event. He mentioned that while his throw was strong, his technique was not as refined as he would have liked. Neeraj had been dealing with injuries in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, which may have affected his preparation and overall performance.

Looking back at his career, Neeraj's achievements are nothing short of extraordinary. In addition to his Olympic success, Neeraj has consistently performed at the highest level in other major competitions. He won the Gold medal at the 2023 World Championships with a throw of 88.17m and claimed another Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a throw of 86.47m. These achievements solidify his status as one of India's greatest athletes.

Neeraj's journey is a story of determination, resilience, and excellence. Even when not at his peak, he remains among the best in the world, continuing to inspire millions of Indians and setting new benchmarks for Indian athletics.