Neeraj Chopra breaks his own record in Javelin throw

Tokyo Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra made an impressive return to competitive action as he broke his own national record to win the men’s javelin throw silver medal at the 2022 Paavo Nurmi Games, here.

The 24-year old Chopra on Tuesday registered a best throw of 89.30m, a new personal best and national record, to finish behind Finland’s Oliver Helander, who won gold with a personal best throw of 89.83m.

Reigning world champion and 2022 season’s world leader Anderson Peters of Grenada claimed the bronze with 86.60m.

The meet in Finland was Neeraj’s first competition since winning the historic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 in August last year.

London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago finished fourth in the 10-man field with 84.02m, while Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic came in sixth with 83.91m.