Federation Cup 2024 Athletics: Neeraj Chopra wins gold at his first domestic event in three years

Chopra took gold with a best throw of 82.27m in his fourth attempt.

In his long-awaited return to competition on home soil, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra put on a stellar showing to win gold in the javelin throw event at the Federation Cup 2024 in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.

On a hot and humid evening at the Kalinga Stadium, the 26-year-old Chopra delighted the raucous crowd with a best mark of 82.27m in his fourth attempt to claim the victory. That throw allowed him to overtake initial leader DP Manu of Karnataka, who took silver with an 82.06m effort.

“I’m just happy to be back competing in India again,” said Chopra after receiving his gold medal. “This wasn’t a night for my very best throws, but I’m satisfied to start my season with a win here.”

From the outset, it was clear that Chopra wouldn’t be exerting himself fully as he eyes bigger competitions ahead, including the Paris Olympics in 2024, where he’ll defend his title. He only made four legal attempts, foregoing his final two throws after taking the lead.

Chopra opened with an 82.00m marker before fouling his second attempt. His third throw traveled 81.47m before he unleashed the 82.27m winner in his fourth attempt to seize control of the contest.

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“The conditions were quite tough, so I had to manage my effort accordingly while also looking ahead in my schedule,” Chopra explained of the energy-sapping humidity. “I’ve got a big summer ahead.”

Maharashtra’s Uttam Patil took bronze with a 78.39m throw, while Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Kumar Jena could only muster a disappointing 75.49m effort to finish fifth. Jena is yet to eclipse the 80m mark this season after a strong 2023 campaign.

For the capacity crowd that created a raucous atmosphere, it was their first chance to watch Chopra in the flesh on Indian soil since his Olympic triumph in Tokyo three years ago. They were treated to an animated performance, with Chopra frequently chatting with his coach, Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, between attempts.

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