NEW DELHI: Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to participate in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 13, aiming to surpass his silver medal-winning performance from the previous year. This event will mark his third competition of the season.
Chopra, 25 years old, began his season with a gold medal in the opening leg of the renowned Diamond League series in Doha on May 5.
Before the Paavo Nurmi Games, he will also take part in the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands on June 4.
During the Paavo Nurmi Games, Chopra will face off against German star Johannes Vetter, with whom he has had a rivalry for almost two years. Vetter notably failed to qualify for the final round of the Tokyo Olympic Games, despite entering the competition as the favourite.
The Paavo Nurmi Games holds the distinction of being a World Athletics Continental Tour gold-level meet. In addition to Vetter, Chopra will compete against other accomplished athletes such as Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch, Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago, European champion Julian Weber from Germany, and Lassi Etelatolo, the bronze medallist from the European Championships, representing Finland.
Last year in Turku, Chopra achieved a throw of 89.30 metres, securing the silver medal. He further improved his distance to 89.94 metres, earning a second-place finish at the World Championships held in Eugene, USA.
(With inputs from PTI)
Chopra, 25 years old, began his season with a gold medal in the opening leg of the renowned Diamond League series in Doha on May 5.
Before the Paavo Nurmi Games, he will also take part in the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo, the Netherlands on June 4.
During the Paavo Nurmi Games, Chopra will face off against German star Johannes Vetter, with whom he has had a rivalry for almost two years. Vetter notably failed to qualify for the final round of the Tokyo Olympic Games, despite entering the competition as the favourite.
The Paavo Nurmi Games holds the distinction of being a World Athletics Continental Tour gold-level meet. In addition to Vetter, Chopra will compete against other accomplished athletes such as Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch, Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago, European champion Julian Weber from Germany, and Lassi Etelatolo, the bronze medallist from the European Championships, representing Finland.
Last year in Turku, Chopra achieved a throw of 89.30 metres, securing the silver medal. He further improved his distance to 89.94 metres, earning a second-place finish at the World Championships held in Eugene, USA.
(With inputs from PTI)
