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India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra has etched his name in history once again, securing a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, adding to his gold from Tokyo. This achievement marks India's second-place finish in the Games, alongside five bronze medals.Chopra, a beacon of consistency, is not only the reigning javelin world champion but also a gold medalist at the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. The 26-year-old has now expressed his ardent desire to witness international javelin competitions on Indian soil."It's a dream of mine to compete with other international stars in India. Hopefully, there will be an international competition soon in India and I can do that," Chopra said during an interactive session with fans.Before that, Chopra aims to refine his technique. "I am entering a new season now. So, I don't have that much time to change training methods or technique. But I hope to improve upon a couple of areas, especially the line of the javelin," he said.Chopra also lauded Manu Bhaker's remarkable performance in Paris, where she clinched two bronze medals. "The way Manu Bhaker prepared her mind and came from her Tokyo setback is impressive. Her mindset appeared to be very strong this time," he said.Chopra also paid tribute to Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who retired from top-level competition with a bronze in Paris. "Sreejesh is a very relaxed and funny person. He motivates younger players a lot. Sreejesh bhai had said that he would retire after the Olympics. The players, I think, also felt that they should win it for Sreejesh bhai after doing so many great things for the team," said Chopra.

Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy in javelin, made history at the Paris Olympics 2024 by becoming the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win back-to-back medals at the Games. However, the night belonged to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who shattered the Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m.Chopra, who was aiming for a second consecutive gold, was hampered by a groin injury that limited him to just one legitimate throw. Despite his best efforts, he could not breach the 90m mark for the first time in his career and had to settle for silver.The frustration was evident on Chopra's face as he repeatedly crossed the throwing arc, resulting in five of his six attempts being declared fouls. During his penultimate throw, he lost his cool and screamed in anger after his leg crossed the line.Speaking to the media after the competition, Chopra admitted that he felt he could have thrown over 90m, but his injury prevented him from doing so. "It was because of an injury (groin strain). I wanted to express myself and throw. It was not happening. It was the Olympic stage. But, the throw was still good. I managed only one legal throw. All others were foul. When Arshad threw 92.97m, I believed in my mind that I would be able to do it (90m) today. It didn’t happen today. Let’s see when it will happen. But the competition was very intense and exciting. Winning a medal for my country makes me happy,” he said.Despite the disappointment of not winning gold, Chopra's silver medal is a testament to his resilience and determination. He has become India's third track-and-field athlete to win an Olympic medal, after Norman Pritchard and Sushil Kumar, and the fifth Indian to have two medals at the Games.

Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy of athletics, made a triumphant start to his Paris Olympics journey on August 26, 2024, which was aptly dubbed "Neeraj Chopra Day" by the official Olympics X handle. The reigning Olympic champion and India's only medalist in athletics in independent history, Chopra breezed into the men's javelin final with a season-best throw of 89.34m in the qualification round.Chopra's dominance was evident from the outset as he was the first to take his attempt in Qualification B. With his very first throw, he surpassed the automatic qualification mark of 85m, securing his place in the final. The Olympics X handle celebrated the moment, tweeting, "Happy Neeraj Chopra day, to all those who celebrate. The reigning champ is back in Olympic action for today's Men's Javelin qualifiers, could he be adding another medal to his collection soon?"The final, scheduled for Thursday at 11:55 pm IST, promises to be a thrilling affair. Speaking to JioCinema after his qualification, Chopra acknowledged the differences in conditions between Tokyo and Paris. "In Tokyo, we threw in the sunshine and here it's a bit cooler and the humidity is much lesser. Tokyo was much warmer and more humid than Paris. The big difference is that there are crowds here," he said.Despite his impressive performance in the qualification round, Chopra remained focused on the task ahead. "Final will be a cracker, the Tokyo final mark has already been surpassed by qualification. We were a little relaxed today. The burden and pressure will be much more in the final," he added.Chopra also addressed his recent injury concerns, stating, "I have had a few issues with my groin and that is why I did not take part in a lot of competitions. It is important to stay fit and reach the final."Chopra's performance in the qualification round has set the stage for a thrilling final, where he will aim to defend his Olympic title and add another chapter to India's sporting history.

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is set to kick off his season at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Doha on Friday, facing a formidable field that includes former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Olympic and world-medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic.Chopra, who is also the reigning world and Asian Games champion, will be aiming to set the tone for his Paris Games preparations in Doha. The 26-year-old Indian javelin superstar has a personal best of 89.94m, which is also the national record.Joining Chopra in the fray will be his compatriot Kishore Jena, who will be making his Diamond League debut. Jena has a personal best of 87.54m.The 10-man field also includes European champion Julian Weber of Germany, who finished fourth in the Olympic Games and World Championships.Chopra is the defending champion in Doha, having won the event in 2022 ahead of Vadlejch and Peters. He has also won three individual legs of the Diamond League and lifted the champion's trophy in 2022.After Doha, Chopra will compete at home for the first time in three years at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar from May 12 to 15. He will then compete in the prestigious Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 18.Chopra's goal for this season is to defend his Olympic title and to break the elusive 90m barrier. He has been training overseas at different international centers in Finland, South Africa, UK, and Turkey to prepare for the upcoming season.The Indian government has spent close to Rs four crore to assist Chopra's training, equipment, coach's salary, and out-of-pocket allowances in the current Paris Olympics cycle.Chopra attributes his preparedness to the training he has undergone overseas and the support he has received from the government. He has also emphasized the importance of staying injury-free and adjusting to a proper diet.