Neeraj Chopra Makes Paris Olympics Bow: A Look At His Competitors

India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra will begin his men's javelin throw title defence at the Paris 2024 Olympics from the qualification round on Tuesday. The reigning Olympic and world champion has a season's best of 88.36m set at the Doha Diamond League in May. He holds the national record of 89.94m, achieved at the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden in June 2022. With top-level competition experience, the 26-year-old Chopra is widely expected to advance through the qualification round. The real challenge, however, will begin on Thursday when he could face a formidable line-up of rivals in the final.

Among the top contenders challenging Neeraj Chopra for the gold medal will be Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia. Grenada's Anderson Peters, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, Julius Yego of Kenya, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and Finland's Oliver Helander add to the high stakes at the Olympics.

Germany's Max Dehning holds the world-leading mark of 90.20m, achieved in February. He has not gone past the 82m mark since then but his personal best still makes him one of the top contenders.

The qualification round will decide the line-up for Thursday's men's javelin throw final. Athletes achieving the qualifying mark of 84.00m will make the final.

If the number of athletes who achieve the 84.00 metre mark is fewer than 12, the next highest-ranked athletes, up to a total of at least 12, will be included in the final. Should more than 12 athletes achieve the standard, all will progress to the final round.

Here's looking at Neeraj Chopra's top rivals at Paris 2024:

Arshad Nadeem:

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem won the silver medal at the World Championships last year and gold at the Commonwealth Games 2022 with a massive 90.18m distance. Neeraj