Indian superstar Neeraj Chopra came up with a superb effort to qualify for the final in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday.
The Tokyo Games gold medallist produced a season’s best throw of 89.34m in his very first attempt in Group B to earn his place in the final.
The 26-year-old Chopra, who also won the World Championship title last year, is hoping to become only the fifth man in history to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in men’s javelin throw.
Germany’s Julian Weber, one of the top contenders for the gold medal, fired the best throw (87.76) from Group A in the qualification round.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, a gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games and a silver medallist at the World Championships, fired a warning shot at his rivals with an impressive throw of 86.59.
The Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, another top contender, managed to achieve a throw of 85.63.