Neeraj Chopra Returns: India Javelin Star Set To Compete In Paavo Nurmi Games - All You Need To Know

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It's good news for Indian athletics fans as Neeraj Chopra, the golden boy and Tokyo Olympic champion, is set to make a comeback in the international arena. Chopra will participate in the Paavo Nurmi Games 2024 in Turku, Finland, on June 18.

Neeraj Chopra missed the 63rd Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 athletics meet due to an issue with his adductor muscle. The event was held in Czechia on May 28.

Neeraj Chopra's Performance In 2024

The entry list for the Paavo Nurmi Games, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level event, has been released, with Neeraj Chopra included among top competitors in the Javelin Throw category.

The Turku meet will be Chopra’s third competition of 2024, following the Doha Diamond League and the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar. The 26-year-old started this season brilliantly. Firstly, he finished second in the Doha Diamond League with a best throw of 88.36m, and then in the Federation Cup, he won the gold medal with a best throw of 82.27m.

Chopra secured a silver medal at the 2022 Paavo Nurmi Games by throwing 89.30m, setting a personal best at the time. Later in the year, at the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League, Chopra surpassed his previous best with a throw of 89.94m, which now stands as the current Indian national record.

He was unable to participate in the Paavo Nurmi Games last year because of an injury. The annual athletics meet in Turku also features top javelin throw stars from around the world every year.

Paavo Nurmi Games 2024: Tough Competition For Neeraj Chopra

Germany’s 19-year-old Max Dehning, who became the youngest javelin thrower to surpass the prestigious 90m mark earlier this year, is also competing in this event. Dehning’s throw of 90.20m is the leading mark in the world this year.

Not only Max Dehning, Pakistan's javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, 2022 World Championships gold medalist Anderson Peters, 2012 London Olympics gold medalist Keshorn Walcott, and Julian Weber, who finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, are participating in Paavo Nurmi Games.