Neeraj Chopra's Olympic Defence: All You Need to Know

Neeraj Chopra, the current title holder, is set to begin his Olympic title defence in javelin on Tuesday. The qualifications start on Tuesday and the final winds up on Thursday. It's been three years of continuous victories and multiple title defences, but this championship stands as the most significant of them all. His victory in Tokyo changed the Indian athletic landscape; a second win will certainly enhance his prominence.

As a part of Group B, Neeraj Chopra's qualifying round begins at 3:20 PM IST. On his journey towards the Paris Olympics, Neeraj kicked off the year in April at the Doha Diamond League with an impressive 88.36m throw—his best of the year. Amid pursuing about 60% of his operating capacity at the Federation Cup [82.27m], he clinched the Paavo Nurmi Games with a throw of 85.97m. His winning throws at these competitions have been some of the lowest since he became an Olympic champion, though this doesn't diminish his performance could be attributed to prioritizing his health over competitions this year.

When it comes to reports about a potential injury, Neeraj cleared the air saying he's not injured but had a minor adductor issue. To prevent its aggravation, he decided to take a break from the competition circuit. He skipped the Ostrava Golden Spike in late May and the Paris Diamond League in July. Neeraj’s health comes first, this has become his motto and it's reflected in his training regimen. His constant workout routine and enthusiastic Instagram posts show he's geared up for the competition.

Regarding the competitors, Max Dehning, the German teenager, is the best thrower of 2024 with a 90.20m throw. Despite his dip in form recently, he's the first teenager to cross the prestigious 90m mark. Neeraj, with a total of 16 in-competition throws this year, ranks the fourth best with his 88.36m Doha attempt.