Internet Desk: Indian Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Thursday clinched his second silver at the ongoing Asian Grand Prix Athletics meet in Jiaxing, China, with a throw of 83.32 meters to qualify for the 2017 World Championships, to be held in London in August.
The Junior World Record-holder had earlier claimed Silver in the first leg of the competition with a throw of 82.11 meters. Chopra, who hails from Panipat, beat the qualification standard for the Mens Javelin throw, which is set at 83 meters.
“I’m extremely happy to have hit the qualification mark for the IAAF World Championships. I’ve been in training with my coach Garry Calvert and it feels amazing to be able to finally achieve what I had come here for. There’s a lot of room for improvement and I’ll be looking to do better at the World Championships,” Neeraj said after the feat.
Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Chao-Tsun claimed Gold in the event, after his throw of 86.92 surpassed his own National Record and finished as the highest mark in Jinhua. Huang Shih Feng of Chinese Taipei finished third with a throw of 78.55 meters while Indian Kheera Ravinder Singh finished just outside the top-three with a throw of 75.22 meters.
JSW Sports-supported Neeraj will take part in his first World Championships, after setting the Junior World Record at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland in July last year with a throw of 86.48 meters.
Neena Varakil claims Gold in Womens Long Jump
In more happy news for the JSW Sports family, long jumper Neena Varakil claimed Gold with a jump of 6.37 meters in the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix Athletics meet. China’s Xu Xiao Ling and Jiang YanFei finished second and third respectively. Varakil had earlier claimed silver with a jump of 6.46 meters in the first leg of the Asian Grand Prix.