Neeraj Chopra national record: Anurag Thakur, Gautam Gambhir hail javelin star after Finland show

Sports minister Anurag Thakur and former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir lavished praise on ‘golden boy’ Neeraj Chopra after the star thrower created a new national record on Tuesday (June 15). Neeraj Chopra, the India’s Olympic gold medallist, set a new national record and finished with a silver medal with a throw of 89.30 metres at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland. Neeraj bettered his own previous national record of 88.07 meters which he had set in Patiala in March last year.

“Golden Great @Neeraj_chopra1 does it again! Neeraj Chopra threw 89.30 metres at Paavo Nurmi Games to create a new National Record ! Absolutely THRILLED You`ve got to see his throw,” Anurag Thakur tweeted.

Golden Great @Neeraj_chopra1 does it again !

* Neeraj Chopra threw 89.30 metres at Paavo Nurmi Games to create a new National Record !

Absolutely THRILLED

You've got to see his throw ! pic.twitter.com/wwKYLj9KU3 — Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 14, 2022

“The golden boy has done it again! New national record. Great going #NeerajChopra,” Gautam Gambhir tweeted.

The golden boy has done it again! New national record. Great going #NeerajChopra

— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) June 14, 2022

Major Surendra Poonia who is a recipient of Vishisht Seva Medal also heaped praises on Neeraj Chopra for a stellar show. He shared a video of Neeraj’s performance on the KOO app on Wednesday. “Golden Army Man Neeraj Chopra created new national record in Javelin by a massive throw of 89.30m at the Paavo Nurmi Games!. Old record (87.58 Mtr) was also on his name He is participating first time in any competition after Olympics. Congrats Champ,” Major Surendra Poonia captioned a post on the KOO app.

Koo App

शेर वापिस आ गया है  Golden Army Man Neeraj Chopra created new national record in Javelin by a massive throw of 89.30m at the Paavo Nurmi Games!. Old record (87.58 Mtr) was also on his name He is participating first time in any competition after Olympics. Congrats Champ जय हिन्द 

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- Major Surendra Poonia (@majorpoonia) 15 June 2022

Coming to the throw, this was Neeraj’s first outing in an International competition since his historic Gold medal-winning throw of 87.58 meters at the Tokyo Olympics on August 7, 2021. The 89.30 meters throw saw the Olympic gold medallist finish second on the podium at the Paavo Nurmi Games.

“Very nice competition, and I am very happy for my personal best and national record. Oliver (Helander) had very good technique today. I tried maybe too much, because that was my first competition of this season. I will compete next in Kuortane after four days,” Chopra said.

The 24-year-old Indian made a statement of intent with his opening throw, measuring an impressive 86.92m. He then recorded 89.30m in his second attempt, bettering his own previous personal best and national record of 88.07m, set at the Indian Grand Prix 3 in March last year.

(with agency inputs)