"I Tried My Best But Arshad Nadeem Produced Excellent Throw": Neeraj Chopra To NDTV

Defending champion Neeraj Chopra might have done his absolute best but it was not enough for him to bag his second Olympics gold medal in a row, as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem took the yellow metal with a record-breaking effort. Yet, Neeraj became the first Indian track-and-field athlete to win two successive Olympic medals with a silver in men's javelin throw. Nadeem managed an astonishing 92.97m in his second attempt to set the bar too high for the rest of the field, including Chopra, who seemed under pressure and managed just one legitimate throw -- the silver-winning 89.45m in the second round.

Speaking to NDTV after the men's javelin throw final, Neeraj admitted that god's blessing was more with Arshad on the day, hence he took the gold medal.

"He produced an excellent throw. In sports, sometimes it's your day, sometimes it's someone else's. Maybe god's blessings were more with Arshad today. I tried my best and I am happy with the distance I managed to throw," Neeraj said.

It was the season's best effort from the Indian, topping his qualification throw of 89.34m, but nowhere close to being enough for gold.

On a candid note, Neeraj was also asked about the things he would like to eat now that his Olympics journey has concluded. But, having been in sports for so long, Neeraj said that he is past cravings.

"Since I have been in sports for a long time, I no longer crave for things. But yes, since I will return home, of course I'll get to eat home-cooked food. As far as performances go, everyone here did great. I am happy that I won a medal for my country. Whatever little I couldn't do, I would try and work on it for the next time," he responded.

Neeraj also enjoyed the immense crowd support in Paris, contrary to the Tokyo