Top five competitors for Neeraj Chopra at Paavo Nurmi Games 2024

The men’s javelin throw competition at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 will begin from 9:45 PM IST.

Neeraj Chopra will take part in the highly regarded Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 in Turku, Finland, scheduled to take place on Tuesday (June 18). This event is a part of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour 2024. This will be Chopra’s third tournament in 2024 following his runner-up finish at the Doha Diamond League and gold at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar.

The reigning Olympic and World champion was also scheduled to compete at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in May but withdrew last moment as a precaution after feeling discomfort in his adductor. The Paavo Nurmi Gams will thus mark his return to action.

In Turku, Chopra will encounter one of his toughest challenges yet in a strong field of eight competitors that boasts Olympic and world championship medalists.

In May, Neeraj started his season at the Doha Diamond League where he achieved a second-place finish and recorded his best throw of 88.36 meters. Neeraj’s last outing was at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneshwar on May 15th where he won the gold medal with a best throw of 82.27 meters.

Neeraj Chopra returns to competition after skipping the Ostrava Golden Spike last month as a precautionary measure with the objective to return to his peak performance and approach the 90-meter mark that he is targeting in 2024.

Top five competitors for Neeraj Chopra at Paavo Nurmi Games 2024

1. Anderson Peters

Neeraj Chopra will face a tough challenge in the upcoming competition against former world champion, Anderson Peters of Grenada who boasts a personal best throw of 93.07 meters and a season’s best throw of 86.62 meters.

ALSO READ: Paavo Nurmi Games 2024: Full schedule, fixtures, results, live streaming details

2. Max Dehning

Chopra will also encounter the 19-year-old Max Dehning who is currently the world leader in men’s javelin. Dehning, hailing from Germany made headlines earlier this year by becoming the youngest man to achieve a throw of 90 meters or more. His personal best and season’s best stand at an impressive 90.20 meters setting up an intriguing matchup as Neeraj faces him for the first time in his career.

3. Oliver Helander

Neeraj Chopra will also compete against local favourite Oliver Helander of Finland who won the championship in 2022. Helander boasts a personal best throw of 89.93 meters and a season’s best of 85.75 meters.

4. Keshorn Walcott

Neeraj Chopra will also be up against Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago who is the 2012 Olympic Gold medalist in javelin. Walcott holds a personal best throw of 90.16 meters and a season’s best of 81.11 meters.

5. Lassi Etelatalo

Neeraj Chopra will also be challenged by another local favourite, Lassi Etelatalo of Finland in the 2024 edition. Etelätalo has a personal best throw of 86.44 meters and a season’s best of 82.20 meters.

The event kicks off at 9:00 PM local time with the Men’s Javelin competition starting at 9:45 PM IST. Viewers in India can catch the live streaming on JioCinema while the event will also be broadcasted on Sports18 – 1 HD.

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