Tokyo Olympics Athletics: Neeraj Chopra tops Group A with a stunning first attempt to cruise through to the final


Tokyo Olympics Athletics: Neeraj Chopra tops Group A with a stunning first attempt to cruise through to the final

Neeraj Chopra

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has booked his place in the final of the Tokyo Olympics. Chopra produced a magnificent first throw of 86.65m to cruise through to the finals. The national record holder breached the qualification mark of 83.50m with ease to advance to the next round.

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Only eight throwers of the 15 in Group A managed to hurl the javelin over the 80m mark. Germany’s Johannes Vetter came up second in the group as he produced an 85.64m throw. Finland’s Lassi Etelatalo was the only other athlete to breach the qualification mark in the group as he registered a season-best 84.50m throw.

Neeraj Chopra’s nemesis Johannes Vetter struggles in qualification

Johannes Vetter
Johannes Vetter

German star Johannes Vetter seemed to struggle in the Tokyo heat as it took the World Champion three attempts to breach the qualification mark. Vetter has been the most consistent thrower this year and boasts the best throw of the season at 96.29m which he achieved at the European Team Championships in May.

The German has been in great form this season dishing out throws over 90m at will. But his performance at the Gateshead Diamond League meet ahead of the Tokyo Games took the world by shock. Vetter managed a best throw of just 85.25m at the meet and it seems like he has not been able to banish the ghosts of horrid showing just yet.

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Also Read: 5 Athletics World records that could be rewritten in Tokyo Games