Neeraj Chopra bags gold at Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland. / X/@WorldAthletics

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic and world champion in javelin, secured gold medal at the prestigious Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on June.18. With a remarkable throw of 85.97 meters, Chopra outperformed a competitive field, marking a triumphant return to action after a brief hiatus due to a minor adductor muscle strain.

The event saw Chopra leading after his initial throw of 83.62 meters. However, Finland's Oliver Helander momentarily seized the lead with an 83.96-meter effort in the second round. Chopra's response was swift and decisive. His third attempt, marked by a signature celebratory roar and raised ha#pnds, sailed 85.97 meters, reclaiming and maintaining the lead for the rest of the competition.

Toni Keranen, another Finnish competitor, delivered a personal best of 84.19 meters, earning him the silver medal. Helander, despite his strong start, settled for bronze. 

Neeraj Chopra strikes gold again!

With a stunning throw of 85.97m, he clinches victory at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 in Finland.

Congratulations Champ️ pic.twitter.com/Fnq34bZRxV

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 18, 2024

Chopra's victory at the Paavo Nurmi Games, a significant event in the track and field calendar, underscores his dominance in the sport. His win also positions him as a strong favorite for the upcoming Paris Olympics. This achievement comes on the heels of his strategic withdrawal from the Ostrava Golden Spike, where he opted out to prevent exacerbating a minor injury.

Reflecting on his performance, Chopra acknowledged that the winning distance was not up to his personal bests but expressed satisfaction with the gold medal. This win adds to his illustrious career, which includes a silver at the same event in 2022 with a throw of 89.30 meters and an improved mark of 89.94 meters at the Stockholm Diamond League later that year.

The Paavo Nurmi Games marked Chopra’s second major competition of the season, following his participation in the Doha Diamond League in May, where he secured second place with an 88.36-meter throw, his ninth best. Prior to that, he won gold at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar with an 82.27-meter throw.

Chopra's next appearance will be at the Paris Diamond League on July.7. Chopra’s performance in Finland therefore sets a positive tone for his upcoming Olympic campaign, where he aims to replicate and surpass his previous successes.