Neeraj Chopra to Face Top Javelin Contenders at Paavo Nurmi Games

World champion Neeraj Chopra set to clash with top contenders at Paavo Nurmi Games

Turku, Finland | June 13, 2023

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra will face off against world leader Max Dehning and European champion Julian Weber in an anticipated javelin showdown at the Paavo Nurmi Games, a prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, on June 18th in Turku, Finland.

This high-profile event forms a crucial part of Chopra’s preparations as he gears up to defend his Olympic title in Paris this August. The Indian prodigy finished second at the Paavo Nurmi Games in 2022, with a throw of 89.30m, behind Finland’s Oliver Helander, who set a personal best of 89.83m.

Chopra, whose lifetime best stands at 89.94m achieved last year in Stockholm, will be eager to assert his dominance against a stellar field. The 25-year-old clinched the world title in Budapest in 2022 with a throw of 88.17m.

“Breaking 90 metres is just a matter of time,” Bartonietz stated at the World Javelin Conference in Kuortane.

According to his coach Klaus Bartonietz, Chopra had even reached 90.40m during a training camp in Belek last year, indicating his potential to surpass the elusive 90-metre mark.

Joining Chopra on the Paavo Nurmi Stadium runway will be Germany’s Max Dehning and Julian Weber. Dehning, the world U20 silver medalist, has emerged as the current world leader after throwing 90.20m in Halle in February – a significant personal best improvement of over 11 metres.

Oliver Helander, the 2022 Paavo Nurmi Games champion, is also set to return to Turku, alongside Finland’s Lassi Etelatalo, in what promises to be a thrilling display of javelin throwing prowess.

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