Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra made a triumphant return to competitive action on Indian soil after three years, winning the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event of the Federation Cup. The event marked Chopra’s first competition in India since March 2021. Despite a slow start to the competition, the 26-year-old superstar showcased his class, surging into the lead in the fourth round with a throw of 82.27m. He maintained his lead, ultimately winning the gold medal, while DP Manu settled for silver.
Chopra’s last domestic competition appearance was at the same event in 2021, where he won gold with a throw of 87.80m. Since then, he has achieved remarkable success on the international stage, including a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Diamond League championship in 2022, and world championship in 2023. He also successfully defended his Asian Games gold medal in China. Despite his numerous accolades, Chopra is yet to cross the 90m mark, with his personal best and national record standing at 89.94m.
