Neeraj Chopra named 2024’s best male javelin thrower by American magazine ‘Track and Field News’

By Prakhar Sachdeo

India’s double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has been named the best male javelin thrower in the world in 2024 by globally-renowned American magazine ‘Track and Field News’.

The 27-year-old Chopra, won silver medal at the Paris Olympics last year. It was his second Olympic medal after the gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Neeraj Chopra, pipped two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada for the top spot in the 2024 rankings published by the California-based magazine.

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem was ranked fifth. Nadeem won the gold medal in Paris with a monster throw of 92.97m. It helped him create the new Olympic record.

“Reigning leader Neeraj Chopra vs. 2022’s winner Anderson Peters for the top spot was likewise not clear-cut. Chopra didn’t score any DL wins, but was at 3–2 narrowly ahead of Peters. Peters, for his part, picked up a trio of DL wins. Razor-thin edge to the Indian for his better Paris placing,” the magazine wrote.

Regarding Nadeem, the magazine wrote: “What do you do with an Olympic gold medallist who had only one other meet, and finished 4th in that one? “Thus it was decided that Arshad Nadeem could be no higher than No. 5 even though he climbed to No 6 on the all-time list.”

Founded in 1948, the magazine, which claims itself to be ‘The Bible Of The Sport’, publishes world and American rankings every year. The magazine is considered an authority in global track and field circles.

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