Published: Jun 18, 2022, 11:10 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 18, 2022, 11:12 PM (IST)
New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra made the most of his competitive return as he secured his first gold post his Olympic success with a throw of 86.69m at the Kuortane Games in Finland on Saturday.
Chopra’s first throw was good enough to help him win the gold as Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and world champion Anderson Peters came second and third respectively.
🥇 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗥𝗔!!!
Neeraj Chopra of 🇮🇳 clinched his first title of the season at the Kuortane Games 2022. The reigning Olympic champion managed a throw of 86.69 metres for the top prize.
Find out more: https://t.co/KK7e3y84ml#Athletics | #KuortaneGames2022 pic.twitter.com/Zvb3kcbJzw
— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) June 18, 2022
Chopra, who won gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year, slipped in his third attempt while the second was also not upto the mark. But his first attempt was enough to take him ahead of Walcott and Peters.
Nasty slip for Neeraj Chopra on a very slippery runway at the Kuortane Games. He seems ok though. pic.twitter.com/6Zm0nlojkZ
— jonathan selvaraj (@jon_selvaraj) June 18, 2022
The 24-year-old, however, didn’t wish to take a chance on a slippery runway due to rain and skipped his fourth throw, knowing well enough that his first attempt would help him to seal the deal.
“No better feeling than being back on the track! Very happy to start my 2022 season with a Personal Best throw 89.30m. Thank you @paavonurmigames for a great experience and congrats to Oliver Helander for the win. Next stop @KuortaneGames,” Chopra had tweeted earlier after shattering his own national record that placed him second in a star-studded field at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on Tuesday.
No better feeling than being back on the track! Very happy to start my 2022 season with a Personal Best throw 89.30m. Thank you @paavonurmigames for a great experience and congrats to Oliver Helander for the win. Next stop @KuortaneGames.
आप सभी के support के लिए धन्यवाद | 🇮🇳🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/FO7INKMagq
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) June 15, 2022
Another Indian athlete, Sandeep Chaudhary finished last with a best throw of 60.35m.
