Paris Olympics 2024 LIVE: A handful of fourth-place finishes and an assured medal denied through disqualification have broken a million hearts in India. However, Neeraj Chopra retaining his gold medal could bring some joy to Indian fans, and there is no reason to believe otherwise.
Neeraj Chopra is in red-hot form and was among the athletes to make direct qualification for the javelin throw finals. World No. 2, Neeraj had produced a monstrous 89.34m throw on his very first attempt to cross the 84 m mark. The main rivals awaiting 26-year-old Neeraj Chopra at Thursday's final are Anderson Peters (GRN), Julian Weber (GER), Arshad Nadeem (PAK), Jakub Vadlejch (CZE), Toni Keranen (FIN), Andrian Mardare (MDA) amongst others.
As Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw Olympic gold medal defence gets underway in Paris, here are the latest updates that you don't want to miss:
FIRST ROUND BEGINS:
Jakub Vadlejch steps up: Manages 80.15m
Anderson Peters' first throw: Manages 84.70m
Keshorn Walcott up next: The two-time medallist manages 86.16m
Arshad Nadeem's turn: Forced to go back after a poor run-up; FOUL
Huge round of applause for Julian Weber: Too close to the red line; FOUL
Julius Yego: A high-looping throw lands at 80.29m
Lassi Etelatalo: 78.81m
Neeraj Chopra's first attempt: The defending champion gets a red flag; FOUL
Andrian Mardare: 79.14m
Oliver Helander: 81.24
Luiz Mauricio da Silva: 80.67m
Toni Keranen: Nowhere near his best as Finnish manages 80.92m
END OF FIRST ROUND
SECOND ROUND BEGINS:
Jakub Vadlejch: Reaches bronze medal position with 84.52m
Anderson Peters: Takes lead with 87.87m
Keshorn Walcott: The first-round-leader's throw ruled FOUL
Arshad Nadeem: Pakistan's world silver medallist manages new Olympic record! A monstrous 92.97m throw takes him to the lead!
Julian Weber: The javelin lands at 87.33m
Julius Yego: The Kenyan manages 87.72m
Lassi Etelatalo: 77.60m
Neeraj Chopra's second attempt: 89.54m! That is huge but Nadeem leads!
Andrian Mardare: 80.10
Oliver Helander: 82.68m
Luiz Mauricio da Silva: 78.67m
Toni Keranen: 75.33m
END OF SECOND ROUND
THIRD ROUND BEGINS:
Jakub Vadlejch: Czechia's champion athlete gets 88.50m
Anderson Peters: FOUL
Keshorn Walcott: 82.89m
Arshad Nadeem: Leader Nadeem, who broke Olympic record in the previous attempt, is little disappointed as the javelin lands at 88.72m
Julian Weber: The German oversteps; FOUL
Julius Yego: FOUL
Lassi Etelatalo: The Finnish ace keeps his progressing hopes alive with 84.58m
Neeraj Chopra's third attempt: FOUL; Indian fans fall silent as Neeraj walks back with his head down
Andrian Mardare: 77.77m
Oliver Helander: FOUL
Luiz Mauricio da Silva: FOUL
Toni Keranen: The Finn comes crashing down but only managed 78.90m
END OF THIRD ROUND
FOUR BOTTOM-PLACED MEN EXIT
FOURTH ROUND BEGINS WITH TOP-EIGHT:
Lassi Etelatalo: 82.08m
Keshorn Walcott: 78.96m
Julian Weber: The German decides to restart his run-up and produces a 86.85m throw
Julius Yego: 84.90m
Anderson Peters: 88.54m; moves to third place
Jakub Vadlejch: FOUL
Neeraj Chopra's fourth attempt: FOUL; second consecutive red flag for the defending Olympic champion
Arshad Nadeem: Leader Nadeem asks the onlookers for support ahead of his run-up; The Pak icon effort is below par -- 79.40m
END OF FOURTH ROUND
FIFTH ROUND BEGINS:
Keshorn Walcott: A poor throw from the Trinidad and Tobago star; 76.86m
Julian Weber: All fired up, the experienced European thrower gets 87.40m
Julius Yego: The African manages 83.20m
Anderson Peters: Third-placed Grenada star asked to wait; after a brief delay he gets the go-ahead signal; 87.38m
Jakub Vadlejch: 84.98m
Neeraj Chopra's fifth attempt: Third FOUL throw in a row! Only one legal throw so far from the Tokyo gold medallist
Arshad Nadeem:84.87m
END OF FIFTH ROUND
ONLY EIGHT THROWS LEFT; SIXTH ROUND BEGINS!
Lassi Etelatalo: The only surviving Finnish athlete among the three that qualified for the finals, Etelatalo manages 82.02m with his last attempt
Keshorn Walcott: Opts out of final round; finishes seventh
Julian Weber: Well short of 85-m! The three-time Olympian gets 84.09m
Julius Yego: The veteran Kenyan slips as he releases the javelin; manages 81.58m; finishes fifth
Jakub Vadlejch: Tokyo silver medallist finishes fourth;
Anderson Peters: 81.83m; Neeraj Chopra's silver confirmed!
Neeraj Chopra's last chance to defend his gold: Poor throw!
Arshad Nadeem secures gold before his final throw; manages to cross the 90m-mark again! 91.79m
- Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan is the new Olympic javelin throw champion!
- Silver medal for Neeraj Chopra (India)
- Bronze for Anderson Peters (Grenada)
