‘Excellence Personified’: PM Modi Congratulates Neeraj Chopra As He Secures Silver in Men's Javelin

New Delhi: Soon after Neeraj Chopra clinched the silver in men's javelin at the Paris Olympics 2024 with a season-best throw of 89.45m at Stade de France on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chopra. “Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again he’s shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success. Congratulations to him on winning the Silver. He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams and make our nation proud,” PM Modi posted on X. 

It was the season's best effort from the Indian, topping his qualification throw of 89.34m. Neeraj Chopra became only the third Indian and the first in track and field to win back-to-back individual Olympic medals.

Pakistan’s Nadeem managed a 92.97m in his second attempt, on the other hand, Chopra got the silver-winning 89.45m in the second round.

Only wrestler Sushil Kumar (2008 and 2012) and shuttler PV Sindhu (2016 and 2021) have won back-to-back Olympic medals. The earlier Olympic record stood at 90.57m in the name of Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway, set during the 2008 Beijing Games.

As many as seven athletes went beyond the 86m mark as the competitive field saw three season's best and an Olympic record.

Keshorn Walcot (86.16) from Trinidad and Tobago also celebrated his season's best show to finish seventh in the 12-man field.

Before tonight, Chopra had never lost to Nadeem in their 10 earlier meetings.

Chopra did not take part in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games due to an injury.

Nadeem was to compete with Chopra in the Hangzhou Asian Games in October last year but pulled out at the last minute due to an injury.

He was beaten by Chopra in the 2018 Asian Games and 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Nadeem had come into the Olympics with just one competition under his belt -- an 84.21m throw at the Paris Diamond League last month.