"neeraj-chopra"

A pre-tournament medal contender, the 23-year-old Chopra fuelled country's expectations by topping the qualification round with a stunning first round throw of 86.59m

At the Olympic Stadium, the 23-year-old Chopra, the junior world champion, cleared the automatic qualifying mark of 83.50 metres with his first attempt of 86.65 metres in Group A to emerge a strong contender

It is learnt that Chopra's pull-out was a precautionary measure to give his body enough time to rest after a lot of travel.

Chopra won gold with a throw of 83.18 metres in his sixth and last attempt at the Meeting Cidade de Lisboa.

Chopra had broken his own national record with a throw of 88.07m in Patiala in the Indian Grand Prix 3 in March.

A person travelling to France requires an internal authorisation letter (Laissez-passer) issued by French Interior Ministry to travel.

"I feel that I need that thing. Due to injury in 2019 got wasted and 2020 and 2021 have been wasted due to Covid-19," he elaborated.

Competing for the first time in more than a year, Chopra hurled the spear to a distance of 88.07cm in his fifth attempt to obliterate his earlier national record of 88.06m