World Athletics Championships 2023: Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Olympics 2024 with 88.77m throw

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Neeraj Chopra breached the qualification standard of Olympics 2024 as early as the first throw of his World Athletics Championships 2023 as the Indian track and field star stormed into the men's javelin final with a throw of 88.77 metres in Budapest on Friday.

Neeraj Chopra's qualifying round lasted just a few minutes as he sent the spear to his season's and fourth career-best distance. He was competing in Group A qualification round. The 2024 Paris Olympics qualifying mark is 85.50m. The qualifying window began on July 1.

Tokyo Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra has a personal best 89.94, which he had achieved at the Stockholm Diamond League on June 30, 2022. Those who throw 83m or the top-12 best performers from both Group A and B qualify for the final round to be held on Sunday.

Neeraj Chopra in fact was the strongest thrower of the lot in Group A as Germany's Julian Weber, who is reigning European Champion, was a distant second with a throw of 82.39m. Another Indian in fray, Manu DP hurled the javelin to a distance of 81.31m in his second attempt.

Defending champion Anderson Peters dip in form continued in 2023 as he could only manage a throw of 78.49 metre. He was placed eighth with a throw of 78.49 and may not make the cut for the 12-man final with Group B rounds yet to take place. The automatic qualification mark is set at 83m.

Coming back to Neeraj Chopra, this is his first tournament since June's 87.66m throw at the Laussane Diamond League, where he also clinched the top spot. The 25-year-old athlete was down with an injury ever since, forced him to miss a couple of preparatory tournaments in build up to World Athletics Championships 2023 as well.

Back in May, Neeraj Chopra also won the Doha Diamond League by hurling the javelin at 87.66m throw. He is currently leading the men's javelin throw table of Diamond League 2023 with 16 points.