Three throws done and the pre-tournament favourite Peters and Chopra were chasing different goals at the halfway mark
Reigning Olympic Champion who has been in splendid form since the time he made a return to the competitive circuit was poised to finally touch that 90m mark.
Chopra who generally starts with a big effort fouled on the first attempt as the spear went about 80m and he didn’t want to get that mark.
While the defending world champion Peters from Grenada started with a world class 90.21m which set the tone of the final.
It wasn’t that Peters throw was unexpected or he did his personal best, he has been consistently throwing in and around 90m and it shows in the way he went around his business
Neeraj returned for the second attempt and managed a 82.39m and this time he registered the attempt or otherwise it would have been a pressure throw at the third attempt, this throw had put him on fifth position
Stuck at fourth till midway
With eight to qualify for the final three throws Neeraj was not in danger of missing out on the opportunity but anything could have happened as he has been starting the series, he came up with a much improved 86.37m which moved him to fourth spot
Peters in the meantime had done yet another 90+ throw.
Neeraj had made it to the top eight which ensured that he will get three more chances to match or better Peters.
The Olympic champion cane back in the fourth attempt and threw the spear to 88.13m which placed him on second position provisionally.
This was by far Neeraj best throw in any final of international competition.
The last two throws didn’t give any surprises and India had its first ever World Championships Silver Medal, first in 19 years.
His CV now reads; Gold at the junior World championships, gold at the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, the historic Olympic gold and now the World Championship silver.
Peters produced three throws of 90m plus the farthest coming in on the last attempt 90.54m
The Chopra Silver medal rounds off a successful Indian campaign at the worlds where there were six finalist.
