The official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the Olympics described August 26, 2024, as the "Neeraj Chopra" day as the golden boy of Indian sports started his Paris Olympics journey with a bang. Neeraj breezed into the men's javelin by topping the qualification round with a season-best throw of 89.34m on Tuesday. What's even more amazing? The defending champion and independent India's only medalist in athletics, took only one attempt to ensure automatic qualification.

In Qualification B, Neeraj was the first to go, and he hurled his first javelin way beyond the automatic qualification mark of 85m to sail into the final.

"Happy Neeraj Chopra day, to all those who celebrate," wrote the Olympics X handle minutes before Neeraj's qualification round began. "The reigning champ is back in Olympic action for today's Men's Javelin qualifiers, could he be adding another medal to his collection soon?" they added in reply.

The final will be played on Thursday at 11:55 pm IST.

Speaking on JioCinema, Neeraj said that he threw the javelin in the sunshine in Tokyo, but it is much cooler and less humid in Paris.

"In Tokyo, we threw in the sunshine and here it's a bit cooler and the humidity is much lesser. Tokyo was much warmer and more humid than Paris. The big difference is that there are crowds here," said Neeraj.

On the challenge of defending his title, Neeraj stated: "Being defending champion is motivation and I need to be prepared. The mind should be focused on doing the job at hand."

Talking about his throw during the qualification round, Neeraj said that though his throw was good, the final remains the "real deal".

"Final will be a cracker, the Tokyo final mark has already been surpassed by qualification. We were a little relaxed today. The burden and pressure will be much more in the final," he added.

Chopra also discussed his injury concerns and said: "I have had a few issues with my groin and that is why I did not take part in a lot of competitions. It is important to stay fit and reach the final."

Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the final of the Olympic javelin event with an immense throw of 89.34m. One and done and into the final (on August 8) he goes.

It was his season's best throw and he looked in peak form, allaying any fears of injury, however minor, hitting top speed with his run-up and screaming at the javelin in his trademark style before turning with a small smile and both hands raised in the air.

At first glance, it looked like Neeraj wasn't too happy with the throw, but that body language quickly changed when he realised how far down the field the javelin landed, well beyond the 84m automatic qualification mark.

Neeraj's Performance: A Masterclass in Dominance

The champion showcased his remarkable performance on the field at Stade de France, completing the event in just ten minutes and registering his season-best effort on his very first attempt.

Competing in Qualification Group B during the afternoon session, Chopra's throw surpassed the previous season's best of 88.36 meters, which he achieved earlier at the Doha Diamond League. His latest feat not only marks a personal best for the season but also exceeds his gold medal-winning throw from Tokyo 2021, which was 87.58 meters.

Chopra's performance set an early tone for the competition, serving as a warning to his rivals in Paris. He remained composed throughout his warm-up routine before delivering his outstanding throw.

In a closely watched competition, Germany's Julian Weber led Qualification Group A with a throw of 87.76 meters. However, it was Chopra who made a significant impact with his opening effort.

The Path to the Final: A Tale of Two Indian Throwers

In addition to Chopra's success, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem also achieved automatic qualification with a season-best throw of 86.59 meters. Nadeem, the World Championship silver medallist from 2023, is known for being the only active Asian javelin thrower to exceed 90 meters, positioning him as one of Chopra's main competitors in the upcoming final set for August 8.

Unfortunately, Indian javelin thrower Kishore Jena was unable to qualify, finishing ninth in Qualification Group B with a best effort of 80.73 meters, falling short of the top 12 needed to advance. 

The Javelin Final: A Battle of Titans

As the javelin finals approach, all eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem as they prepare to battle for the coveted Olympic medal. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown, and the world will be watching as these two titans of the javelin throw go head-to-head for Olympic glory.

The competition is sure to be intense, with both athletes looking to make history in Paris. Chopra will be aiming to defend his title, while Nadeem will be looking to upset the reigning champion.

With the world watching, the javelin final promises to be a truly unforgettable event. Will Chopra defend his title, or will Nadeem write his own chapter in Olympic history? Only time will tell.