‘I’m lucky people place confidence in me’: Neeraj Chopra says after starting season with win at Doha Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra overcame the powerful Doha conditions to begin out his 2023 athletics season with a win inside the Diamond League on Friday. The Olympic gold medallist threw a distance of 88.67m collectively along with his first attempt — which was moreover the world foremost attempt. It was in no way bettered on the night time time.

Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch accomplished second with a most interesting attempt of 88.63m, merely 4 centimeters behind Chopra. World champion Anderson Peters was third on the night time time with a throw of 85.88m.

“Today was challenging for all athletes, but I’m still satisfied with my result. It was a very hard win, but I’m happy. It’s a really good start for me. I hope to come in the first place in the next competitions and to keep consistent during this season. I feel really good. It was a good start. Today was challenging, next time I’ll do more throws,” Neeraj Chopra instructed the Diamond League site after his event.

The Indian was moreover glad on the reception he acquired whereas competing.

“I’m lucky people have faith in me, I feel really good. It was a great atmosphere. Lot of people came to support me and they are really happy. For this season I plan to stay fit and do more than I can. Sometimes it’s really hard because we have a big country and people hope for me. This Doha meeting is great, the first one every year. This season I’ll stay fit consistent and I’ll try do my best in next competitions,” he added.

After his first throw of 88.67m, the Indian’s subsequent throws have been 86.04m, 85.47m a foul throw, 84.37m and 86.52m.

Chopra had hinted that he hoped to throw over 90m at Doha.

“The most important thing is that Doha is famous for 90m throws and hopefully, tomorrow will be a great result for all,” he had talked about on the pre-competition press conference ahead of Friday’s event.

“It always helps to have good competitors. It is my first competition of the season and Yukub has already thrown 88m in Potchefstroom (South Africa) so I think tomorrow will be a great competition,” talked about Chopra.

Meanwhile, Eldhose Paul might solely finish tenth inside the 11-man self-discipline in males’s triple leap with a most interesting attempt of 15.84m. In actuality, Paul jumped that distance collectively along with his first effort and was in no way able to improve on it, collectively along with his second leap of 13.65m and last attempt of 14.70m.