Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra has been honored as the best javelin player in the world by the renowned US-based magazine Track and Field News.
Despite not performing at his peak, Chopra secured the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, surpassing Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who won gold with a world-record throw. The magazine ranked Nadeem fifth, while two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada claimed the second spot.
Chopra’s top ranking was determined by his consistency and strong placement at major events. Track and Field News, referred to as “The Bible of the Sport,” highlighted the narrow competition between Chopra and Peters for the top position.
Although Peters won three Diamond League events in Lausanne, Zurich, and Brussels in 2024 and secured an Olympic bronze, Chopra edged him out with his better finish in Paris.
The magazine noted that Chopra did not achieve his pre-season target of crossing the 90-meter mark but praised his overall performance.
This marks the second consecutive year Chopra has topped the magazine’s rankings, having also secured the number one spot in 2023. Founded in 1948, the California-based publication releases annual global rankings, underscoring its authority in the field of athletics.
What's next for Neeraj Chopra?
Neeraj Chopra will headline a global javelin competition set to take place in India, likely in September, as announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). Outgoing AFI president Adille Sumariwalla shared this update during the AFI Annual General Meeting.
Additionally, India will host a World Athletics Continental Tour bronze-level event in Bhubaneswar on August 10. This marks India’s first global athletics meet since the international permit events held in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
