NEW DELHI: Star Indian javelin thrower
Neeraj Chopra
is set to showcase his talent at the esteemed
Paavo Nurmi Games
in Turku, Finland on June 18. He will face off against
Max Dehning
, the rising star from Germany, who recently joined the exclusive 90m club, as announced by the event organisers.
At 26 years old, Chopra is gearing up to commence his season at the
Doha Diamond League
Meeting on May 10.
His previous performance at the Paavo Nurmi Games saw him clinch a silver medal in 2022 with an impressive throw of 89.30m, marking one of his career's finest moments.
Unfortunately, he had to withdraw from the event in 2023 due to injury recovery. Chopra boasts a personal best throw of 89.94m, demonstrating his prowess in the sport.
Named after the iconic Finnish athlete, the Paavo Nurmi Games hold a significant position in the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series. Regarded as one of the most prestigious single-day competitions outside the Diamond League Meeting series, it serves as a platform for top athletes like Chopra and Dehning to display their skills on an international stage.
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Javelin throw
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will return to Turku in June. Chopra will compete in the Paavo Nurmi Games after a year's break and will meet a high-quality group of competitors. The competition will take place in Turku on June 18," said Arttu Salonen, who is responsible for athlete procurement at Paavo Nurmi Games, on the official event website.
"In addition to Chopra, we already have a contract with German
Julian Weber
and spring's surprise Max Dehning.
"The goal is to throw the toughest javelin competition of the summer in Turku before the Paris Olympics. Negotiations with others continue. Naturally, we want top domestic names to cover Turku, led by Oliver Helander (who won gold in the 2022 edition with 89.83)."
In February, the young sensation Dehning stunned the athletics world by launching a remarkable throw of 90.20m at the German Winter Throwing Championships in Halle.
This marked a significant improvement of over 11.07m from his previous best of 79.13m, establishing him as the youngest javelin thrower to breach the coveted 90m mark. However, his performance took a slight dip when he managed a throw of 80.30m at the European Throwing Cup in Leiria, Portugal on March 10.
On the other hand, Julian Weber, the reigning European champion, has consistently been a force to reckon with in the javelin throw. Despite finishing fourth in both the Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 Budapest World Championships, Weber's longest throw of last season stood at an impressive 88.72m. His personal best stands at 89.54m, showcasing his formidable skills in the sport.
The Paavo Nurmi Games website quoted Chopra's coach Klaus Bartonietz as saying that the Indian javelin superstar "threw 90.40 in training a year ago in spring in Turkey at the camp in Belek".
"90 meters could have already been broken in the Stockholm record throw (of 89.94m, Chopra's PB). In Stockholm, Chopra threw 20-30 centimeters from behind the line, so it was a 90-metre throw.
"90 metres is therefore only a matter of time. However, we say that it's just a number," Bartonietz was quoted as having stated at the World Javelin Conference at Kuortane Olympic Training Center ?in November last year, according to the Paavo Nurmi Games website.
(With PTI inputs)
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