‘Aaj Arshad ka din tha’: Neeraj Chopra reflects on missing gold at Paris Olympics 2024 – WATCH

New Delhi: India’s javelin ace Neeraj Chopra acknowledged that there is a need for improvement in his game and also appreciated his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan for his gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday. Neeraj, who was in action at the men’s javelin throw final to defend his Olympic gold medal, had to settle with the silver. Post-game, Neeraj admitted that he needs to contemplate and work on his game for the future.

Neeraj said that while he gave his best, it was Arshad’s day to win the gold and that he needs to assess his performance and focus on future improvements. “We all feel happy whenever we win a medal for the country. It’s time to improve the game now. We will sit and discuss and enhance our performance,” Neeraj said in an interaction with ANI.

As all the participating athletes were given six attempts, Neeraj’s best arrived in the second attempt as he made a throw of 89.45 meters, but committed fouls in the other five attempts, having overstepped, which restricted his chances of winning a gold medal. Neeraj further said that the competition level was tough and that every athlete gets a day to shine.

“Aaj Arshad ka din tha (Today was Arshad’s day). I gave my best, but some things need to be addressed and worked on,” Neeraj said while also expressing confidence in the future prospects of India at the Olympics. “India played well (at the Paris Games). Our national anthem may not have been played today, but it will be heard in the future,” Neeraj said.

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#WATCH | Paris: On winning a silver medal in men’s javelin throw at #ParisOlympics2024, Ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra says, “We all feel happy whenever we win a medal for the country…It’s time to improve the game now…We will sit and discuss and improve the… pic.twitter.com/kn6DNHBBnW

— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2024

Arshad-Neeraj head to head

Arshad Nadeem breached the 90-metre mark twice in his six attempts with his 92.97 metre-throw ultimately making bringing Pakistan their first-ever individual gold medal. He also set a new Olympic record by surpassing Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway (90.57m) from Beijing 2008.

Anderson Peters of Grenada secured the bronze medal with a throw of 88.54 meters. Chopra’s final throw was his season’s best, bettering his qualification round throw of 89.34 meters which was then his second-best all-time throw. Despite giving up the gold medal, Chopra’s head-to-head record against Nadeem is still strong, leading 9-1, but Nadeem leads him in terms of longest throws and personal bests.

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 Neeraj Chopra claimed a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw event at the Paris Olympics 2024 with his arch-rival Arshad Nadeem bagging the gold medal. He admitted a need for improvement in his game post the win.  Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today