Top five throws of Neeraj Chopra in 2023

The Olympic champion won gold medal at World Championships and Asian Games.

In the realm of javelin throwing, the 2023 season has indisputably been monumental for India’s prodigious talent, Neeraj Chopra. Throughout this extensive season, Neeraj consistently graced finals and frequently found himself on the podium.

What truly distinguishes this season is the remarkable consistency he’s displayed, with an astounding four out of his top ten career throws occurring within this calendar year. The 88-meter mark has undeniably become a benchmark of excellence for Neeraj Chopra. As the athletics world anticipates the 2024 Paris Olympics, many wonder if this will be the moment Neeraj surpasses the 90-meter barrier.

With the current season coming to an end let us discuss the top 5 throws of Neeraj Chopra in 2023.

Lausanne Diamond League 2023 – 87.66m

Despite adversity leading to his withdrawal from three events in June, including the FBK Games in the Netherlands, Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, and the Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic due to a muscle strain during training, he claimed his second successive win at the Lausanne meet with an impressive 87.66m throw in his fifth attempt. This event in Lausanne marked Neeraj’s second competition of the season after the Doha Diamond League.

He encountered a challenging start as he fouled his initial attempt. Meanwhile, Germany’s Julian Weber seized the early lead with an 86.20m throw. The Indian javelin ace swiftly rebounded by initiating his scoring with an 83.52m effort in his second throw and the momentum continued as he logged an impressive 85.04m with his third throw, securing the second spot.

Unfortunately, his fourth attempt yielded no mark. However, in a captivating turn of events, the Indian champion claimed the top spot with a 5th best throw of the season with 87.66m mark on his penultimate attempt ultimately securing the victory. Julian Weber secured the second position with a final throw of 87.03m, while Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, the Tokyo Olympics silver medallist finished third with an 86.13m mark.

World Athletics Championships 2023 Finals – 88.17m

In Budapest, Hungary’s Nemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Neeraj Chopra showcased his mettle in the World Athletics Championships finals by capturing the top position with a throw spanning 88.17 meters to be crowned as the world champion, marking his fourth-best throw of the year.

Defeating Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem who earned silver with a season’s best of 87.82m, Chopra, the Olympic champion made his mark with an impressive throw of 88.17m and secured historic gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event thereby overcoming last year’s silver medal disappointment. As the first Indian athlete to achieve this feat, it completes his set of accomplishments to boast having won every major title.

Doha Diamond League 2023 – 88.67m

Continuing his exceptional form in the javelin throw event, Neeraj triumphed at the Doha leg of the Diamond League meeting held at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in Qatar with a phenomenal 88.67-meter throw. In a spectacular season opener at the Doha Diamond League 2023, he clinched victory ahead of the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, Jakub Vadlejch.

This top performance emerged out as his third best throw of the season. After an impressive start of 88.67 meters on his first attempt, Chopra maintained his high standards registering 86.04 meters in his second throw and 85.47 meters in the third. Despite a foul in his fourth attempt, the Indian javelin ace showcased remarkable consistency with throws of 84.37 meters and 86.52 meters in his last two efforts.

World Athletics Championship 2023 Qualification – 88.77m

Neeraj delivered his second-best throw of the season in the World Athletics Championships javelin throw qualification round, recording an impressive 88.77 meters. He swiftly secured his spot in the finals and simultaneously breached the qualification mark for 2024 Paris Games with an impressive first attempt reaching a then season’s best distance of 88.77m.

The Olympic champion’s qualification process lasted only a few minutes with a single remarkable throw.

Asian Games 2023 – 88.88m

The culmination of the 2023 athletic season was nothing short of extraordinary as Neeraj Chopra seized the spotlight at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. On October 4, 2023, in a competition that had enthusiasts on the edge of their seats, he secured the top spot in the javelin with an astonishing throw of 88.88 meters, ranking as the fourth-best in his career.

Considering the trajectory of his career, witnessing this exceptional athlete reach new heights and establish a fresh standard of excellence, solidifying his legacy as one of the world’s finest javelin throwers, wouldn’t be surprising.

The event was marked by an intense showdown between Neeraj Chopra and Jena, adding an extra layer of excitement and concluding the season spectacularly. After this exceptional run, recuperation and rejuvenation are crucial to ensure Neeraj remains at the pinnacle of his abilities for the upcoming season. With international events on the horizon in the coming year, Neeraj is poised to make a resounding comeback.