TOKYO: Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin on Saturday for India’s first ever Olympic athletics gold.
Chopra, 23, managed a winning best of 87.58 meters to go one better than India’s previous best — two silver medals won in the 200m and now-defunct 200m hurdles at the 1900 Paris Games by British-Indian Norman Pritchard.
The Czech Republic filled out the podium at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, Jakub Vadlejch taking silver with 86.67m and Vitezslav Vesely claiming bronze with 85.44m.
Bollywood music boomed out on the stadium tannoy after Chopra had launched his sixth and final throw, in the knowledge he had won gold.
The farmer’s son sprinted the length of the infield, an Indian flag fluttering over his shoulders.
Chopra had came into the Olympics with the fourth best throw of the year and lived up to his form as a faltering Johannes Vetter of Germany struggled and failed to qualify as one of the top eight.
Vetter, who threw seven times over 90m between April and June, including a season’s best of 96.29m, eventually finished down in ninth.
“It was a tough competition,” the 28-year-old said, complaining that he was having problems not over-running his launch on the surface.
“If you watch the throws again, you can see it’s not the right surface for me. It’s a good surface for all the runners, for all the nice world records and Olympic records on the track, but not for a javelin thrower like me. So it really makes me sad.”
Vetter added: “It’s like driving a car on autopilot. You can’t brake, and I have to brake to throw far.
“I was trying everything. I was trying in every throw and every warm-up throw to find the right technique for this surface.
“I was trying to change some technical things to get the right block on this surface, but it was impossible today.”
Chopra, Vetter said, had done a “good job.”
“He’s a really talented guy, always really friendly,” the German said.
“I’m happy for him, but he has another blocking technique as he showed in the qualification.”
Neeraj Chopra wins javelin for India’s first ever Olympic athletics gold
https://arab.news/8xmjh
Neeraj Chopra wins javelin for India’s first ever Olympic athletics gold
- Bollywood music boomed out on the stadium tannoy after Chopra had launched his sixth and final throw, in the knowledge he had won gold
- The farmer’s son sprinted the length of the infield, an Indian flag fluttering over his shoulders
Australian Open champion Rybakina leads elite field at Dubai Tennis Championships homecoming
- Fresh from beating Aryna Sabalenka in Melbourne, Dubai-resident Rybakina returns this month as one of the tournament’s leading contenders
- The world’s top 20 women, including all 8 quarterfinalists from the season’s first Grand Slam, are confirmed for Dubai’s WTA 1000 event, which starts Feb. 15
DUBAI: Fresh off the heat and glare of Melbourne, the story of this year’s Australian Open will roll straight from the Rod Laver Arena into Dubai.
Elena Rybakina, 26, having dethroned defending champion Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday, returns on Feb. 15 to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, a tournament that is increasingly special to the Russian.
After adding a second Grand Slam win to her 2022 Wimbledon title, Rybakina, the new world No. 3, returns to Dubai not only as a former finalist but as a resident of the city since 2024.
All eight Australian Open quarterfinalists are confirmed to compete in the emirates’ 26th WTA event, bringing with them the rivalries, storylines, and form that defined the season’s first major.
“Congratulations to Elena, who we are delighted is returning to Dubai this month,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the organizing committee.
“The participation of the entire top 20 so soon after Melbourne gives fans a chance to see the sport’s biggest names together in one place. For the players, we provide another proving ground and an immediate chance to test themselves on a hard court against the very best once again.
Rybakina’s title run in Australia showcased her complete arsenal of thunderous serving, flat baseline power, and icy composure.
“I would like to send huge congratulations to Elena on behalf of everyone at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships,” said Salah Tahlak, tournament director and deputy managing director of Dubai Duty Free.
“She has competed at our tournament in Dubai five times in the past six years, reaching the final on her debut in 2020 and progressing to the semifinals last year.
“As a Dubai resident, she always enjoys a lot of ‘home’ support here and I’m sure that will only grow after this past weekend’s fantastic victory. We look forward to welcoming her back.”
The eight quarterfinalists in Dubai include world No. 1 Sabalenka, six-time Grand Slam winner Iga Swiatek, world No. 4 Amanda Anisimova, American pair Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 5 and No. 6 respectively, two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina, and 18-year-old starlet Iva Jovic.
Also competing are defending champion Mirra Andreeva, 2024 winner Jasmine Paolini, Canadian breakout Victoria Mboko, and 2019 winner Belinda Bencic.
The contest takes place from Feb. 15 to 21, followed by the ATP 500 men’s tournament from Feb. 23 to 28.
