Islamabad:Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has revealed in a recent interview that he was taken aback by Arshad Nadeem’s remarkable throw at the Paris Olympics.
Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and silver in Paris, acknowledged that Nadeem’s impressive throw put him under pressure. He stated, “I wasn’t in my senses; Arshad Nadeem made a great throw.”
He admitted that Nadeem’s colossal throw affected his performance, saying, “The first throw reflects an athlete’s mindset. My first throw was good, but it turned out to be a foul. I tried to adjust to avoid a foul on the new track, but I failed.”
Chopra noted that the competition at the Olympics was intense, and after Nadeem’s impressive performance, he felt overwhelmed. “I also had a good throw, but what happened afterward, I don’t know. They say you should keep your wits about you along with your excitement.”
He expressed that he was filled with enthusiasm and anger that day, determined to perform well, but technical aspects fell short during his throws.
It’s worth mentioning that Chopra was unable to defend his gold medal at the Paris Olympics, where Arshad Nadeem set an Olympic record to win gold, while Neeraj secured silver. During the event, Nadeem’s second throw measured 92.97 meters, whereas Chopra’s best throw was 89.45 meters, which was only legal in the second round.
