NEW DELHI: India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra said Saturday that missing out on Olympic gold hurt, but the injury-hit athlete eyes bigger returns in upcoming competitions.
The 26-year-old won silver in Paris after Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won gold with an Olympic record of 92.97 meters in the javelin final.
Chopra, who made history in 2020 Tokyo Olympics with India’s first ever Olympic track and field gold, threw further in Paris with 89.45 meters — not too far off his personal best of 89.94m.
“There is no comparison with a gold medal,” Chopra told reporters by phone from Switzerland, where he is training for upcoming tournaments.
“Winning back-to-back medals for your nation is good and taking a lap of the ground with your country’s flag is always a wonderful feeling,” he added.
“But the national anthem playing when your flag goes up with you on top of the podium was missing.”
However, he said he was pleased with his silver.
“We have to accept what we have,” he said. “I am happy with what I got.”
Chopra built on his breakout success in Tokyo by winning world championship gold last year, but missed a few competitions due to a groin injury.
But the well-built star, who hails from the northern Indian state of Haryana — a nursery of athletes including Olympic wrestlers and boxers, remains confident of future success.
“I believed that I could cover more distance,” Chopra said on his mindset after Nadeem’s monster throw in Paris.
But Chopra said he will not set himself targets of 90 meters and more.
“I leave this to God. Just prepare well, and give it a rip, the javelin will travel,” he said.
Chopra became a national hero after his Tokyo gold, earning million-dollar endorsement deals with his boyish charm, changing hairstyles and an infectious smile.
However, Pakistan’s Nadeem shot to overnight stardom after his throw gave his nation’s their first individual Olympic gold.
Nadeem’s father-in-law gifted him a buffalo for the Olympic feat.
But Chopra isn’t surprised, saying he had been given a large container of ghee, or clarified butter.
“In Indian villages... gifts such as buffaloes, motorbikes and tractors are common,” he said.
India’s Chopra eyes bigger returns after losing Olympic gold to Pakistan’s Nadeem
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India’s Chopra eyes bigger returns after losing Olympic gold to Pakistan’s Nadeem
- Chopra missed out on gold after Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem threw javelin at record distance of 92.97 meters
- The athlete made history in 2020 Tokyo Olympics by winning India’s first-ever track and field gold medal
Al-Hilal win to cut Al-Nassr’s lead at the top to two points
- Reigning champions Al- Ittihad beat Neom 3-1 to end the year on a high after difficult title defence
- Leaders dropped their first points of the season on Tuesday after a 2-2 draw against Ettifaq
RIYADH: Al-Hilal have closed the gap on leaders Al-Nassr lead at the top of the Saudi Pro League table to two points after beating Al-Khollod 3-1 on New Year’s Eve.
The win saw Al-Hilal leapfrog Al-Taawoun into second place they now have 29 points from 11 matches, just two behind Al-Nassr, who on Tuesday dropped their first points of the season after a 2-2 draw with Ettifaq.
Al-Hilal took the lead through Sergei Milinkovic-Savic after 45 minutes there was still enough stoppage time for Ramiro Enrique to equalize form the penalty spot. Two second half goals from Theo Hernandez secured a vital three points for Al-Hila.
Earlier in the day reigning SPL champions Al-Itttihad beat hosts Neom 3-1 to go fifth in the table and end the year on n relative high after a difficult defence of their title so far in this campaign.
Roger Fernandes opened the scoring on 14 minutes from Steven Bergwijn’s assist, but Said Benrahma equalized 13 minutes later for teams to go into the break on equal terms.
Second half goals by Bergwijn and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi secured a morale-boosting win for Al-Ittihad.
In Wednesday’s other match, Al-Qadsiah beat hosts Al-Shabab 3-2 to stay fifth in the table.
