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Neeraj Chopra, India's reigning Olympic javelin throw champion, is poised to defend his title at the upcoming Paris Olympics. His remarkable performance at the World Championships, where he qualified for the final and the 2024 Paris Olympics with a first attempt of 88.77m, has solidified his status as a formidable contender.Chopra's journey to the top has been marked by consistent excellence. At the Tokyo Olympics, he etched his name in history by securing India's first-ever athletics gold medal with a best throw of 87.58m. He became the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra (2008) to win an individual gold at the Olympics and the first Indian since independence to earn a medal in athletics at the Games.Post-Tokyo, Chopra has maintained his impressive form. In June 2022, he set a new personal best of 89.30m at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, breaking his own national record. He further surpassed his record with a throw of 89.94m at the Stockholm Diamond League, where he finished second.Chopra's historic silver medal at the Oregon World Championships in July 2022 was followed by a gold at the Lausanne Diamond League, which also qualified him for the Zurich final. He emerged victorious in the final with a throw of 88.44m, becoming the first Indian to do so and securing his spot at the 2023 World Championships.In May 2023, Chopra topped the Doha Diamond League with an 88.67m throw, propelling him to the top of the men's javelin rankings by World Athletics. His golden performance at the World Athletics Championships in August 2023, with a throw of 88.17m, further cemented his dominance. He concluded the season with a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Games, achieving a season-best throw of 88.88m.Chopra's unwavering determination and exceptional talent make him a strong favorite to defend his Olympic title in Paris. His consistent performances and unwavering focus on improvement bode well for India's hopes of another historic triumph in athletics.

India's Olympic journey towards Paris 2024 has begun with a promising start. The country has already secured 100 quotas across various sports, including archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, equestrian, golf, hockey, judo, rowing, sailing, shooting, swimming, table tennis, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling.The Tokyo Olympics saw India create history with its largest-ever contingent and its biggest medal haul in a single edition. Neeraj Chopra's historic gold in men's javelin throw was a defining moment. At Paris 2024, the focus will once again be on Chopra, who will look to defend his title.In shooting, India has secured quotas in every Olympic category for the first time. Trap shooter Prithviraj Tondaiman and women's trap shooter Rajeshwari Kumari were among the first to qualify.Athletics has also seen significant progress. Race walkers Priyanka Goswami and Akshdeep Singh became the first Indians to qualify for the event at Paris 2024. Four Indian athletes breached the qualifying standard in the men's 20km walk, with Akshdeep, Vikash, and Paramjeet Singh receiving the nod.In boxing, Jasmine Lamboria secured the quota in the women's 57kg category. Renowned sports medicine expert Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala has assured that all athletes are in prime condition for the Olympics.The complete list of Indian athletes who have qualified for Paris 2024 so far includes:* Archery: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai, Pravin Jadhav, Bhajan Kaur, Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat* Athletics: Akshdeep Singh, Vikash Singh, Paramjeet Singh Bisht, Priyanka Goswami, Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary, Jyothi Yarraji, Kiran Pahal, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, Abha Khatua, Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Jena, Annu Rani, Sarvesh Kushare, Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker, Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, Santhosh Tamilarasan, Rajesh Ramesh, Mijo Chaco Kurian, Vidhya Ramaraj, Jyothika Sri Dandi, MR Poovamma, Subha Venkatesan, Prachi, Priyanka Goswami/Suraj Panwar* Badminton: H.S Prannoy, Lakshya Sen, P.V Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Ashwini Ponappa, Tanisha Crasto* Boxing: Nikhat Zareen, Amit Phangal, Nishant Dev, Preeti Pawar, Lovlina Borgohain, Jaismine Lamboria* Equestrian: Anush Agarwalla* Golf: Subhankar Sharma, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Aditi Ashok, Diksha Dagar* Hockey: P.R Sreejesh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rogidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gujrant Singh* Judo: Tulika Mann* Rowing: Balraj Panwar* Sailing: Vishnu Saravanan, Nethra Kumanan* Shooting: Prithviraj Tondaiman, Rajeshwari Kumari, Shreyasi Singh, Anantjeet Singh Naruka, Raiza Dhillon, Maheshwari Chauhan, Anantjeet Singh Naruka/Maheshwari Chauhan, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Babuta, Elavenil Valarivan, Ramita Jindal, Swapnil Kusale, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Sift Kaur Samra, Anjum Moudgil, Sandeep Singh/Elavenil Valarivan, Arjun Babuta/Ramita Jindal, Arjun Cheema, Sarabjot Singh, Manu Bhaker, Rhythm Sangwam, Vijayveer Sidhu, Anish Bhanwala, Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, Sarabjot Singh/Manu Bhakar, Arjun Cheema/Rhythm Sangwam* Swimming: Dhinidhi Desinghu, Srihari Nataraj* Table Tennis: Sharath Kamal, Harmeet Desai, Manav Thakkar, Manika Batra, Sreeja Akula, Archana Kamath* Tennis: Sumit Nagal, Rohan Bopanna, Sriram Balaji* Weightlifting: Mirabai Chanu* Wrestling: Aman Sehrawat, Vinesh Phogat, Anshu Malik, Nisha Dahiya, Reetika Hooda, Antim Phangal

India's Olympic Journey: A Century of Triumphs and TransitionsIndia's Olympic journey began in 1900, when Norman Pritchard represented the country under British rule. However, it was in 1920 that India officially entered the Olympic Movement, sending a team to Antwerp. Since then, India has participated in 25 Summer Olympics, with Paris 2024 marking its 26th appearance.Over the years, India has witnessed numerous milestones and triumphs. The men's hockey team dominated the sport from 1928 to 1956, winning six consecutive gold medals. Dhyan Chand, the legendary hockey player, played a pivotal role in these victories.In recent years, India has made significant strides in other sports as well. Neeraj Chopra's historic gold medal in javelin at Tokyo 2020 was a testament to the country's growing prowess in athletics. India has also made its mark in shooting, wrestling, and badminton.Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, India is determined to make a strong showing at Paris 2024. A total of 111 athletes will represent the country, showcasing their talent and determination on the world stage.India's Olympic journey has been marked by both triumphs and transitions. From its humble beginnings under British rule to its emergence as a global sporting power, India's athletes have consistently inspired and united the nation. As the country prepares for Paris 2024, it is poised to continue its legacy of excellence and create new chapters in its Olympic history.

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra will lead a 28-member Indian athletics contingent to the Paris Olympics, which will commence on July 26. Chopra, the reigning world champion in javelin throw, skipped the recent Paris leg of the Diamond League to focus on his preparations for the Summer Olympics 2024.The Indian squad comprises 17 men and 11 women athletes. Race walkers Priyanka Goswami and Akshdeep Singh, who are part of the squad, were the first Indians to qualify for athletics this year. Other notable names include Avinash Sable and Tejinderpal Singh Toor, who won gold medals at the Hangzhou Asian Games.The Indian 4x400m men's relay team, featuring Muhammed Anas, Muhammed Ajmal, Amoj Jacob, and Rajesh Ramesh, will be closely watched after their qualification at the World Athletics Relay 2024 tournament in Bahamas.The track and field competition will be held at the Stade de France from August 1 to August 11. "I am confident that this contingent will sustain India's growth trajectory in sports," said Union sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya during the ceremonial send-off of the Paris-bound athletes and the unveiling of the playing kits of the contingent.

Neeraj Chopra, India's star javelin thrower, is in peak physical condition and poised to secure a medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics, according to Spencer Mackay, head of strength and conditioning at the Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS).Chopra, 26, underwent rehabilitation at IIS for an elbow injury prior to his historic Olympic gold medal victory in Tokyo 2021. Despite a recent adductor niggle, Mackay emphasizes that Chopra's past injuries are no longer a concern."He is in excellent physical condition and well-prepared," Mackay stated. "When the Olympic finals begin, Neeraj will be in a fantastic position to win another medal for the country."Chopra resumed competitions in June after a month-long break, claiming gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland. He also secured a gold medal at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.Mackay highlights the importance of sports science and rehabilitation in modern athletic training. "India has a lot of scope to enhance the performance of their athletes," he said. "As long as the scope for sports training supplemented with sports science, development of coaches, the scope for India to massively increase the medal haul come the next Olympics games is going to be clear."IIS has become a hub for Indian athletes seeking injury recovery and rehabilitation. Mackay emphasizes the tailored approach to rehab programs based on individual athlete data and psychological factors."We also have in mind the psychological aspect of an athlete suffering a specific injury and the way he or she suffered it in mind," Mackay explained. "If we have more contact with them, we can do more based on the capability of the athlete and how much we have been able to expose him or her to development over time being a key component of the rehabilitation process during the injury situation."Chopra's absence from the Paris Diamond League on Sunday indicates his focus on the Olympics. Mackay remains confident in Chopra's abilities and the support provided by IIS. "We are happy to be in a situation where we have been able to affect athlete rehabilitation in a positive way and to see them returning back to the performance level they had before, is an incredibly rewarding position."

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has clarified that the Paris Diamond League on Sunday was never a part of his competition calendar this year. The statement came after a media report stated that Chopra pulled out of the event due to an adductor niggle that has been troubling him for the past couple of months.Chopra took to social media to clarify that there was no question of a withdrawal when he had not even entered his name for the event. "Hello, everyone. Just to clarify: the #ParisDL wasn't part of my competition calendar this season, so I haven't 'withdrawn' from it. I'm focusing on getting ready for the Olympic Games," Chopra posted.The 26-year-old was exempted from last week's National Inter-State Championships, which was a mandatory event for all Indian athletes, by the Athletics Federation Of India (AFI). The AFI said the relaxation was given to him due to the short turnaround time between the domestic event and the Diamond League on July 7.However, Chopra had indicated last month that his schedule would be decided according to the state of his body. "We had a discussion that I would play in the National Inter-State Championships (June 27-30) and it's going to be held in Panchkula in Haryana but it was very near to the Paris Olympics," Chopra had said."Since I was playing in Doha which is near to India. Moreover, there is Paris Diamond League (on July 7) between National Inter-State and Olympics. So, we decided to compete here (Federation Cup)," Chopra had said."Further competition schedule will be decided later according to situation and my body. Otherwise, I will go to Paris from there (after competing in Turku)."Chopra, who scripted history by becoming the first Indian to win a track and field medal at the Tokyo Olympics, had won the gold at the at the Paavo Nurmi Games last month. Following this, he had opened up about his adductor niggle which has affected his season, saying he will consult "different doctors" after the Paris Olympics.

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has withdrawn from the upcoming Paris Diamond League due to a persistent adductor niggle. The injury has been bothering Chopra for the past few months, and he has decided to prioritize his training and recovery.In an interview with ESPN, Chopra explained that he is focusing on strengthening his blocking leg, which is crucial for transferring the momentum from his run-up to his throwing arm. He said, "I need to strengthen my blocking leg when I throw because that's when my groin gets pulled. We're working on that to see how we can reduce the impact on the groin and control the pressure on it."Chopra admitted that he could have competed in more events, but he realized that his health is paramount. He said, "I could have competed in more events for sure and that was the plan. But I have realized that my health is paramount, that comes first. Even if I feel the slightest discomfort or like I am pushing myself too much in training, I've learnt to pause for a bit."The block phase is a critical maneuver in javelin throwing, as it is the point at which the pace generated by the run-up is transferred to the hip and then to the throwing arm. Chopra said that he has become wiser over the years and no longer puts himself at risk to fulfill commitments like he used to do before his Olympic gold."Back then, if I had an entry in a competition, I would definitely go and compete no matter what happened. But now with more experience, I am better placed to make correct decisions," he said.Chopra expressed satisfaction with his performance at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, where he topped the field with a throw of 85.97m. However, he acknowledged that there was room for improvement. "I was happy with my performance in Turku, but I felt there was more work to do. I was slow on the runway compared to my normal speed. I want that speed back and for that, I need proper confidence that I am fully fit and that my groin is fit. I want to feel confident when I run on the runway," he said.Chopra's decision to withdraw from the Paris Diamond League is a precautionary measure to ensure that he is fully fit for the upcoming Paris Olympics. He is expected to consult with different doctors after the Games to address the adductor niggle.

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been battling an adductor niggle that has hampered his season. After winning his first gold medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games, Chopra expressed his intention to consult multiple doctors after the Paris Olympics to address the persistent issue.Chopra's adductor niggle has been a recurring problem, affecting him every year. Despite the discomfort, he managed to secure a gold medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games with a throw of 85.97m. However, he acknowledged that he could not compete as much as he would have liked this season due to the niggle.Despite the setback, Chopra remains determined to compete in more competitions this season. He will next participate in the Paris Diamond League on July 7. In preparation for the Paris Olympics, Chopra will train in three different European venues with his coach Klaus Bartonietz and physio Ishaan Marwaha.Chopra's training regimen includes stints in Kuortane, Finland; Saarbrucken, Germany; and Gloria Sports Arena, Turkey. He emphasizes the importance of staying healthy in the lead-up to the Olympics, as he believes it will enable him to perform at his best.Chopra's journey to the Paris Olympics has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. Despite the adductor niggle, he remains focused on his goal of achieving success at the highest level. His determination and resilience are a testament to his unwavering spirit and commitment to the sport.

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to make his competitive return at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on Tuesday, June 14. The 26-year-old Indian superstar will be up against a stellar field, including German sensation Max Dehning, who is the youngest member of the coveted 90m club.Chopra, who is aiming to enter the 90m club himself, will also face competition from local favorite Oliver Helander, who defeated him in the 2022 edition of the Paavo Nurmi Games. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago will also be in the fray.Chopra was forced to withdraw from last month's Ostrava Golden Spike as a precautionary measure due to a niggle in his adductor muscles. He began his season at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he finished second with a throw of 88.36m.Despite the setback, Chopra remains confident in his preparations for the Paris Olympics in 2024. He has opted out of the National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Panchkula to avoid a hectic schedule ahead of the Games."Further competition schedule will be decided later according to situation and my body. Otherwise, I will go to Paris from there (after competing in Turku)," Chopra said after the Federation Cup.Chopra's return to competitive action at the Paavo Nurmi Games will be a crucial test of his fitness and form as he builds up to the Paris Olympics. The Indian star will be hoping to continue his impressive run of success and cement his status as one of the world's best javelin throwers.