Neeraj Chopra delivered the second-best throw of his career at 89.45m in the men's javelin final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but it wasn't enough to secure gold. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with a throw of 92.97m, claiming his country's first-ever track and field gold medal on Thursday, August 7.

Chopra, the reigning Olympic champion from Tokyo, added a silver medal to his accolades, marking India's first silver at the Paris Games. Despite only one legal throw out of six attempts, Chopra became the fifth Indian athlete to earn multiple Olympic medals. However, the spotlight was stolen by Nadeem, whose incredible performance highlighted his rise from humble beginnings as the son of a construction worker.

Grenada's Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, secured the bronze medal with an effort of 88.54m, while Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, who won silver in Tokyo, finished fourth.

Neeraj Chopra's Series: X, 89.45m, X, X, X, X
Arshad Nadeem's Series: X, 92.97m, 88.72m, 79.40m, 84.87m, 91.79m
Anderson Peters' Series: 84.70m, 87.87m, X, 88.54m, 87.38m, 81.83m

Chopra, who fouled five of his six attempts, was under pressure after Nadeem's record-breaking 92.97m throw surpassed the previous Olympic record set by Andreas Thorkildsen in 2008. Nadeem, who faced challenges such as competing with an aging javelin earlier this year, delivered two throws over 90m, showcasing his dominance in the event.

The final was fiercely contested, with five throwers surpassing Chopra's gold-winning mark of 87.58m from Tokyo. The event, held at Stade de France, featured a star-studded field, including past Olympic medalists.

Chopra's first attempt was met with loud cheers from Indian supporters, but like many others, he failed to register a valid throw. Arshad Nadeem, who initially appeared nervous, eventually made history with his record-breaking throw. Despite Chopra's best efforts, he couldn't match Nadeem's performance, settling for silver.

London Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott, who started strong, finished in seventh place, while Anderson Peters rebounded from injury struggles to claim the bronze. Jakub Vadlejch and Rio silver medalist Yulius Yego also fell short of the podium.

This final marked the beginning of what could be an epic javelin rivalry between India and Pakistan, with Nadeem and Chopra leading the charge on the global stage.