Asian Games 2023: World Champion Neeraj Chopra wins gold with a throw of 88.88 m; Jena wins silver

India's star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday won a gold medal in the Asian Games with a massive throw of 88.88m along with Kishore Jena who won the silver medal with 87.45m.

Japan won the bronze medal with a throw of 82.68m.

Jena with his winning shot sealed his berth for the Paris Olympics. The qualification mark was 85.50m.


Neeraj Chopra's past achievements
In the last 2018 Asian Games that was held in Jakarta, Olympic gold medalist Chopra won gold with a throw of 88.06 m, which he crossed in the 19th edition of Asian Games. Previously, he had also secured a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games 2018, with a throw of 86.47 m.

In 2021, he captured an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, with the best throw of 87.58 m.

In June, he made a new national record and finished with a silver medal with a throw of 89.30 metres at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, bettering his own previous national record of 88.07 meters which he had set in Patiala in March last year.

In June again, he gave another sterling performance as he clinched gold in the 2022 Kuortane Games in Finland. Neeraj threw 86.69 m to clinch the top prize in tricky and wet conditions.

Neeraj Chopra made history at the World Athletics Championships in July by becoming only the second Indian and the first male track and field athlete to take home a medal. He finished second and won the silver medal, realising his aim of winning a World medal with a throw of 88.13 metres.

With a gold medal in Asian Games, Olympics, CWG and World Athletics Championships and a Diamond League title, Chopra has won every top prize in the sport.

Mismanagement by Chinese authorities
On the javelin field, a huge controversy erupted during Chopra's event when his first attempt was not measured, prompting legendary Anju Bobby George to accuse the Chinese officials of "trying to cheat" and "deliberately targeting the Indians".

"I don't know why they did not measure my first throw. Just after me, the second and third competitors had their throws and their distance were measured. I kept on asking what happened to my first throw," Chopra told reporters after winning gold medal on his fourth attempt.

Kishore Jena, who joined Chopra on the podium with his silver-winning effort, also had his second throw invalidated for crossing the line but the decision was later reversed.

In the past, the mismanagement by Chinese authorities included the red-carding of 100m hurdler Jyothi Yarraji for false start before her medal was upgraded from bronze to silver, and not measuring Annu Rani's throw.

"I felt bad that my first throw in such a big competition went like that. Jyothi ki saath bhi aisa huwa, mere saath garbar huwa hey. Jena ka ek throw mey bhi huwa. So there were issues, but finally, I would say our results were good. Despite whatever has been done, we have shown that we came prepared," Chopra added.

"Our team should certainly look into why there are so many issues we are facing, I have never seen these kinds of things in big competitions. I or some other athlete could have been mentally down after the first throw. Anything could happen. Jyothi also fought," he said.

(With PTI inputs)