Top five competitors for Neeraj Chopra in 2024 season

Published at :March 15, 2024 at 10:30 AM

Modified at :March 15, 2024 at 10:30 AM

(Courtesy : Mint)

Max Dehning, who became the youngest athlete to surpass the 90m mark, is among the athletes to watch out for.

India’s esteemed athlete, Neeraj Chopra, is presently preparing for the forthcoming challenges of this year, notably the Paris Olympics 2024, where he will endeavour to retain his gold medal in the Javelin throw event:

The Tokyo Olympics gold medalist had an outstanding 2023 season, securing victory in the World Athletics Championships as well as claiming the gold medal at the Asian Games with his season-best throw of 88.88 meters.

Looking ahead, the year 2024 is anticipated to present challenges despite initial impressions, as competitors will be keen to capitalize on every opportunity to claim victory from the esteemed Indian contender.

Top five competitors for Neeraj Chopra in 2024

Kishore Kumar Jena (India)

The primary contender for Neeraj Chopra is India’s Kishore Kumar Jena. It is worth noting that he provided Chopra with a hard-fought challenge in the Hangzhou Asian Games, ultimately securing second place with a throw of 87.5 meters and narrowly missing the gold medal.

His skill was also evident in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he achieved fifth position with a throw of 84.77 meters. He is undoubtedly aiming to sustain his performance and achieve medal success in this year’s premier competitions.

Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic)

Undoubtedly, one of Chopra’s top competitors is Jakub Vadlejch. He not only claimed victory in the 2023 Diamond League Final in Eugene with a throw of 84.24 meters, but also secured the record for the longest throw in 2023 at the 2023 Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland.

Additionally, Vadlejch clinched the bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August 2023, achieving a throw of 86.67 meters. Currently, he holds the second rank in the world behind Chopra.

Julian Weber (Germany)

Julian Weber, currently holding the third position in the global rankings for javelin throw, may present a formidable challenge to his Indian counterpart shortly. In July 2023, he secured the national title with an impressive throw of 88.72 meters at the German Championships in Kassel.

Furthermore, he emerged victorious at the International Pentecost Sports Meeting in Rehlingen, Germany, in May of the preceding year with a remarkable throw of 85.85 meters. His most notable international achievement was a fourth-place finish in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. This year, the German athlete will surely aim to surpass his previous performances and attain further prestigious accolades.

Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan)

The Hangzhou Asian Games bronze medalist, Arshad Nadeem is a strong contender in the javelin throw category. Additionally, he secured the silver medal at the World Athletics Championship in Budapest with a throw of 87.82 meters, marking his top throw in 2023. Since their first encounter in the 2018 Asian Games, he has been a consistent competitor of Chopra.

Currently ranked fourth in the world, Nadeem’s ascent to the pinnacle of athletics represents a significant achievement in Pakistan’s history. If he sustains this level of performance, surpassing Chopra in the realm of athletics would not be unexpected.

Max Dehning (Germany)

Max Dehning, a 19-year-old German javelin thrower, made headlines in February 2024 by recording a throw of 90.20 meters at the Winter Throwing Championships in Halle. This feat established him as the youngest athlete to surpass the 90-meter mark.

Although he is currently ranked 39th globally, Dehning’s remarkable performance indicates a strong prospect for competing for a medal at the upcoming Paris Olympics and other events throughout the year.

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