Neeraj Chopra wins gold in his eponymous event

BENGALURU: Former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra won his eponymous javelin competition on Saturday at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Stadium, registering a dominant victory with a throw of 86.18 meters in the first round.

Chopra, who earned gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and silver at the 2024 Paris Games, dominated throughout following his winning effort with throws of 84.07m and 82.22m in subsequent rounds as over 14,500 spectators cheered for their home favorite.

Former world champion Julius Yego of Kenya claimed silver with 84.51m, marking a promising performance for the 2016 Rio silver medallist ahead of the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage secured bronze with a throw of 84.34m, continuing his upward trajectory after entering the 85-meter club at the 2024 Asian Throwing Championships in Korea.

Chopra staged a dramatic comeback after opening with a foul, recovering to post his winning 86.18m effort that proved unbeatable throughout the competition.

The 12-athlete field saw only eight participants advance to the second round after three initial attempts.

In a shocking upset, former Olympic champion Thomas Rohler failed to progress after managing just one valid attempt in the first round.

Following the successful conclusion of Saturday’s event, Neeraj Chopra expressed his intention to return with the competition next year, aiming to expand its scope by including additional athletic events.