Athletics Rankings – Neeraj Chopra reaches world No. 1 in men’s javelin throw

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Mumbai, . India’s Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Neeraj Chopra on Monday climbed to the top in the latest men’s javelin throw and became the new world No. 1 in the rankings released by World Athletics. Chopra was leading Anderson Peters of Grena by 22 points with 1455 points. Chopra was ranked No. 2 since August 30, 2022, but this week overtook defending world champion Peters.

Jakob Vadlejch of Czech Republic is third with 1410 points, Julian Weber of Germany is fourth with 1385 points and Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan is fifth with 1306 points.

The No.1 ranking will come as a boost for Chopra, who will next compete at the FBK Games 2023, to be held in the Netherlands on June 4. He also confirmed his participation in the Paavo Nurmi Games 2023 in Turku, Finland on 13 June.

The 25-year-old from Haryana has risen to the top of the rankings on the back of impressive performances since September last year, when Chopra won the Diamond League 2022 Final in Zurich, becoming the first Indian athlete to win the prestigious Diamond League trophy.

However, he was ruled out due to injury after the win in Zurich.

Chopra, who holds the Indian national record in men’s javelin throw, made his comeback at the season-opening Doha Diamond League on May 5 this year and finished first with a throw of 88.67m. Andersen Peters finished third in the Doha meet with a throw of 85.88m.

Chopra’s rise to the top is a sign of his fine form ahead of next year’s Paris Olympics.

World number 15 Rohit Yadav and world number 17 DP Manu are the other Indian javelin throwers in the top 20.

In the men’s 3000m steeplechase, India’s Avinash Sable is in the top 20, with Morocco’s Soufiane EL Bakkali at the 14th spot with 1286 points in the rankings.

–IANS

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