Indian javelin throw superstar Neeraj Chopra will participate in the prestigious Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 18, where he will compete, organizers said Against Germany’s 19-year-old rising star Max Dehning, the latest entrant to the 90m club. Chopra, 26, who will start his season at the Doha Diamond League on May 10, won silver at the 2022 Paavo Nurmi Games with a throw of 89.30m, the second-best result of his career . In 2023, he withdrew from the event due to recovery from injury. Chopra’s personal best is 89.94m.

The Paavo Rumi Games are named after the legendary Finnish middle-distance runner. This is the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Series event, one of the most prestigious single-day races outside of the Diamond League series.

“Javelin Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will return to Turku in June. Chopra will participate in the Paavo Nurmi Games after a year’s break and will meet a group of high-quality athletes in the competition. It will be held in Turku on June 18,” Arttu Salonen, who is in charge of athlete procurement for the Paavo Nurmi Games, said on the official event website.

“As well as Chopra, we have contracts with German Julian Weber and spring surprise Max Denning.

“Our aim is to hold the toughest javelin event of the summer in Turku before the Paris Olympics. Negotiations with other parties are still continuing. Of course we hope that the top domestic players, led by Oliver Helander, will participate in the event. Erku competition (he won the gold medal at the 2022 Olympics with 89.83).” In February, teenager Dehning threw an astonishing 90.20m, 11.07m better than his previous best of 79.13, to become the youngest person to break the coveted 90m barrier at the German Winter Throwing Championships in Halle javelin thrower. However, he was able to throw 80.30m at the European Throwing Cup held in Leiria, Portugal on March 10.

Julian Weber is the reigning European champion and his longest throw last season had a strike rate of 88.72. He finished fourth at both the Tokyo Olympics and the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. His personal best is 89.54m.

The Paavo Nurmi Games website quoted Chopra coach Klaus Bartonitz as saying that the Indian javelin superstar “threw a 90.40 during training at the Belek, Turkey camp a year ago”.

“The 90m may have been broken in the Stockholm throw record (89.94m, Chopra’s PB). In Stockholm, Chopra threw 20-30cm from behind the line, so it was a 90m throw .

“So the 90m is only a matter of time. However, we say it is just a Numbers.” website.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)