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Rising Indian archer Vaishnavi Pawar, backed by the Punit Balan Group, has made a remarkable impact on the international stage. At the 2024 Asian Youth Archery Championship in Taipei City, Chinese Taipei, Vaishnavi played a pivotal role in the Indian team's silver medal triumph in the recurve U-18 women's team category.As the lead shooter for the three-member Indian team, which also included Pranjal Tholiya and Jannat, Vaishnavi displayed exceptional composure under pressure. In the semi-final, they faced the formidable South Korea and emerged victorious in a thrilling shoot-off.The Indian team faced a similar challenge in the gold medal match against the hosts. After trailing 2-4, they fought back to force a shoot-off, but ultimately settled for silver."Representing India alongside my teammates is an honor," said Vaishnavi. "Beating South Korea in the semi-finals was a significant achievement, and we are determined to continue improving. I am grateful for the support of the Punit Balan Group, which has been invaluable in my journey."Vaishnavi, who hails from Malkapur Village in Maharashtra, has been training in Pune. Her talent caught the attention of the Punit Balan Group, which extended financial assistance to support her training and competition expenses."Vaishnavi's performance in Chinese Taipei is a testament to her hard work and dedication," said Punit Balan, chairman and managing director of Punit Balan Group. "We are proud to support her and believe she has the potential to achieve great things in the future."In addition to her team success, Vaishnavi also reached the quarter-finals in the individual category. Her impressive performance at the Asian Youth Archery Championship has further solidified her status as a rising star in Indian archery.

Indian discus thrower Yogesh Kathuniya has expressed the need to enhance his mental fortitude after securing a silver medal at the Paris Paralympics, marking his fifth consecutive second-place finish since the Tokyo Games.Kathuniya, 27, achieved a season-best throw of 42.22m in the discus throw F-56 event, but acknowledged that his mental strength has been lacking. "I have lacked in mental strength. I will have to build up more, just as it was before, in 2022. Since I got injured, due to cervical, it has come down," he said.The athlete, who competes from a seated position, has faced challenges including chickenpox and cervical radiculopathy. Despite these setbacks, he remains determined to improve. "It's okay. I am still young. I can easily play two more Paralympics. I will do better. I will change my style this time. I have a World Championship next year. I will perform well next year," he said.Kathuniya's silver medal in Paris follows similar results at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships, as well as the Asian Para Games last year. He believes that participating in more competitions leading up to the Paris Games would have been beneficial. "I think I made a mistake. I should have played a little more competition. I should have played more events. I was not ready. I played only two events this year. I should not have done that."Despite his recent string of silver medals, Kathuniya's hunger for success remains strong. "To be honest, my hunger will never end. Even if I hit 50m, my hunger will not end. I want to show the world that it was Yogesh Kathuniya who crossed 50m in a seated throw, the first person in the world."Kathuniya is now planning a two-month break, including a solo trip to Switzerland, to focus on his mental well-being. "I think my mind should be relaxed. And I will have to go away from sports once. So that I can focus more on mental strength."

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic silver medalist in javelin throw, is currently training in Switzerland to prepare for his upcoming competitions. Despite battling a long-standing groin injury, Chopra remains confident in his abilities and aims to improve his distance.Chopra's injury has limited his training sessions, but he has managed to maintain his form and consistency. He plans to compete in the Lausanne Diamond League on August 22 and will continue through the season before undergoing surgery for his groin issue.Despite his injury, Chopra believes he could have surpassed Arshad Nadeem's Olympic record throw of 92.97m. However, he acknowledges that his physical limitations prevented him from pushing himself to the limit.Chopra's performance in Paris was affected by the fast track at the Stade de France, which caused him to foul more often than usual. He also struggled with his legwork on the runway, which hindered his ability to generate power in his throws.Despite the challenges, Chopra is satisfied with his silver medal and believes it is a testament to his resilience and determination. He is eager to improve his distance and cross the 90m barrier, but recognizes that he needs to be injury-free to achieve his goals.Chopra's consistency at major competitions has raised the bar for Indian athletics and drummed up interest in javelin throw. His performance in Paris, even while battling an injury, is a reminder of his exceptional talent and the bright future of Indian sports.

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion, fell short of retaining his gold medal at the recently concluded Paris Olympics, settling for silver with a best throw of 89.45 meters. In a virtual press briefing, Chopra expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that he lacked the physical sharpness to push himself to his limits."Mentally, I was ready, but physically, I was retraining myself," Chopra said. "My legwork on the runway was not how it should have been. My efforts were going in vain."Chopra's silver medal came behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97 meters. Grenada's Anderson Peters secured bronze with a throw of 88.54 meters.Chopra's performance was particularly disappointing given his previous dominance over Nadeem, whom he had defeated in all nine of their previous head-to-head matchups. However, Nadeem's throw of 90.18 meters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games had surpassed Chopra's top effort.Chopra admitted that the last two to three years have been challenging for him in terms of fitness. "I am always injured," he said. "I really tried hard, but I have to work on my injury (staying injury-free) and technique."Despite the setback, Chopra remains determined to improve and regain his status as the world's top javelin thrower. He has already announced his participation in the Lausanne Diamond League, which begins on August 22.Chopra's silver medal is a reminder that even the greatest athletes can face setbacks. However, his determination to overcome adversity and return to the top is a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit.

Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic silver medalist in javelin throw, expressed his confidence in competing against Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem and his belief that he could have broken the gold medalist's Olympic record.Chopra, who entered the final as the favorite with an impressive 89.34m in the qualifying round, threw the javelin to 89.45m, his second-best effort ever, surpassing the 87.58m that earned him gold in Tokyo.However, it was not enough to overcome Nadeem, who set a new Olympic record with a massive 92.97m throw. "Nadeem is a very hardworking player, and competing against him is always positive," Chopra said. "I was confident that we would have a good fight. After he set the Olympic record in his second attempt, it put pressure on everyone, but I was sure I could break it after my second attempt, which was close to 90. But somehow, my body didn't allow it."Chopra began the final with a foul on his first attempt, while Nadeem also fouled his first throw. Trinidad's Keshorn Walcott took the early lead with an 86.16m throw, followed by Anderson Peter at 84.70m. Chopra's only legal throw of the night, 89.45m, came on his second attempt.Despite not winning gold, Chopra made history by becoming the second Indian male and third overall to win back-to-back Olympic medals. He joins wrestler Sushil Kumar, who won bronze and silver in 2008 and 2012, and PV Sindhu, who won silver in 2016 and bronze in 2020."It's never easy to perform in the Olympics, especially when you're defending your medal," Chopra said. "I knew I could break the Olympic record after my second throw, but I wasn't able to. I'm happy to have won a silver medal for the country. I'll work on the things I need to recover well."Chopra, who is training in Switzerland with his coach and physio, announced his participation in the Lausanne Diamond League, which begins on August 22.

Neeraj Chopra, India's star javelin thrower, has once again etched his name in history by securing a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. His remarkable performance, with a season-best throw of 89.45m, has brought immense pride to the nation.Chopra's consistent brilliance has been evident throughout his career, with medals at major events such as the World Championships, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. His latest achievement at the Olympics is a testament to his unwavering determination and exceptional talent.Beyond his sporting prowess, Chopra's choice of timepiece during the event has sparked considerable interest. As an ambassador for Omega, he sported the "Ultra Light" from the Seamaster Aqua Terra collection, a watch valued at a staggering Rs. 52,13,200.Chopra's aspirations extend beyond his Olympic triumph. He eagerly anticipates competing against international stars in India, hoping for an upcoming international competition to provide him with that opportunity. However, he recognizes the need for improvement in certain areas of his technique, particularly the line of the javelin, to enhance his power and accuracy.Despite physical challenges, Chopra summoned his inner strength in the Paris Games final. Inspired by his opponent's impressive throw, he unleashed his season's best performance, demonstrating his unwavering spirit and competitive drive.Chopra's silver medal is a testament to his exceptional abilities and unwavering determination. It is a moment of pride for India and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring athletes across the nation.

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, had to settle for a silver at the Paris Olympics 2024. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem took the gold with a Games record throw of 92.97m. Despite becoming the only Indian track and field athlete to win multiple Olympic medals, Neeraj remains humble as ever.In a viral video, Neeraj was seen apologizing to the fans after failing to defend his javelin throw crown. "I don't have much to say, but I've brought something to show you (silver medal). Sorry, like last time, there was no national anthem played, what I had thought, didn't happen but medal is medal, I had worked hard and winning a medal for the country and taking a lap of the track with the flag, that's a different feeling all together," Neeraj told the fans in the viral video.Chopra bagged the silver at the Paris showpiece with a throw of 89.45m behind Pakistan's Arshad, who hurled the javelin to 92.97m, an Olympic record. Anderson Peters of Grenada came third with a throw of 88.54m among the field that included some high-profile javelin throwers like Julian Webber, Jakub Vadlejch, and Julius Yego.Neeraj expressed dissatisfaction with his performance and revealed that the last two to three years were not good for him in terms of fitness. "It was a good throw but I am not that happy with my performance today. My technique and runway were not that good. (I managed) only one throw, the rest I fouled," Neeraj said according to Olympics.com."(For my) second throw I believed to think I can also throw that far. But in javelin, if your run is not so good, you cannot throw very far," added Neeraj.The Indian ace javelin thrower, who also is the current Asian Games champion, said that injuries leading to his title defense in Paris made some difference and he will have to work on being injury-free and on his technique. "The last two or three years were not so good for me. I am always injured. I really tried hard, but I have to work on my injury (staying injury-free) and technique," the 26-year-old added.

India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion in men's javelin throw, faced a setback at the Paris Olympic Games 2024, settling for a silver medal. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem stole the show with an Olympic record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters, leaving Chopra short of his title defense.Despite failing to cross the 90-meter mark in Paris, Chopra made history as the first Indian athlete to win two consecutive Olympic medals in track and field. His unwavering focus and dedication have brought numerous accolades to the nation.Beyond his athletic achievements, Chopra's personal life has remained relatively private. However, a recent visit to his family home in Panipat revealed a glimpse into his luxurious lifestyle. The athlete boasts an impressive car collection, including high-end vehicles and motorcycles.Chopra's Golden Retriever dog, aptly named Tokyo, serves as a constant reminder of his historic gold medal-winning throw in the previous Olympic Games held in the Japanese capital.After his silver medal performance, Chopra acknowledged Nadeem's exceptional performance, marking the first time the Pakistani athlete had surpassed him in competition. "Arshad performed well, and I congratulate him. I've been competing with him since 2016, and this is the first time he has won while competing together," Chopra said.Despite an ongoing groin injury, Chopra remains determined to push his limits. "The throw was good, but I still have a lot left in me, and I need to stay fit to achieve it," he stated.Reaching the 90-meter mark remains a primary goal for Chopra. "I haven't achieved a 90-meter throw yet, but during the second attempt, I felt that today might be the day. I have faith in myself, and I know I'll reach that milestone someday," he expressed.Chopra's resilience and unwavering spirit are a testament to his dedication to his sport. Despite setbacks, he remains focused on improving his technique and overcoming his injury challenges.

Neeraj Chopra's mother, Saroj Devi, expressed immense joy and pride over her son's silver medal victory at the Paris Olympics. She also extended her heartfelt congratulations to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who broke the Olympic record to clinch the gold medal."We are overjoyed with the silver medal. The one who won gold is also our child, and the one who won silver is also our child. All athletes work hard and deserve recognition," Saroj Devi told PTI Videos.She emphasized that there was no distinction between Chopra and Nadeem, both of whom are close friends off the field. "Nadeem is a talented athlete who plays well. We are equally proud of both of them," she added.Chopra's family is eagerly awaiting his return home, where they plan to celebrate his achievement with his favorite dish, "Churma." "He did exceptionally well. We will welcome him with Churma, which he loves. We are delighted and have been celebrating with firecrackers and ladoos," Saroj Devi said.Chopra's performance was particularly impressive given the highly competitive field, with seven athletes surpassing the 86m mark. "We are thrilled that he produced his season's best. The competition was intense, but he gave it his all," said Chopra's aunt, Kamlesh.Chopra's silver medal adds to his impressive collection of accolades, including gold medals at the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games. "After Tokyo, the only medal left was silver, and he has now achieved that as well," Kamlesh said.The family had initially hoped for a gold medal after Nadeem's record-breaking throw, but they were equally overjoyed with Chopra's silver. "We are happy with both of them. They have brought glory to Asia," Kamlesh added.