New Delhi ( India ) – Neeraj Chopra has confirmed he is feeling good after slipping at the Kuortane Games in Finland on Saturday before claiming gold medal with an 86.69 metre throw. The 24-year-old Olympic Champion said he is looking forward to kick off his Diamond League season in Stockholm on June 30.
The 24-year-old Chopra slipped after his third attempt in Kuortane on Saturday. The conditions were treacherous for a javelin throw competition with a wet and slippery run-up due to rains. He lost his balance after releasing the spear in his third attempt and had a nasty fall with his left shoulder hitting the turf.
Chopra won the competition with his opening throw his lone legal attempt of 86.69m. He took only three attempts, just like second and third-place finishers Trinidad and Tobago’s 2012 Olympics champion Keshorn Walcott (86.64m) and reigning world champion Anderson Peters (84.75m) of Grenada.
“Tough conditions with the weather, but happy to get my first win of the season here at Kuortane,” Chopra wrote in an Twitter.
Athletics Federation of India (AFI) also said that “all is well” with Chopra.
Peters, who has been beaten by Chopra twice in four days, is leading the charts this season with his monster throw of 93.07m while winning gold in the Doha Diamond League last month. Chopra’s 89.30m effort in Turku stands at fifth for the season.