The Ace of Javelin Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal at the Kuortane, Finland Games on Saturday after scoring 86.69 meters in his first attempt. He was behind Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada.

Chopra, which recently set a new national record, started sharply with a throw of 86.69 m, which was enough to beat its competitors. He made two bad throws and decided on the last three throws. It was his second competition since the Tokyo Olympics, where he became the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics.

Walcott finished with a clean second throw of 86.64 m, while Peters finished third with the best attempt of 84.75.

Acting Asian and world champion javelin thrower Sandeep Chaudhary, who also trains at the Kuortane Olympic Training Center with Chopra and also finished eighth with the best throw of 60.35 m, also took part in the competition.

Chopra started well during the rainy season, but committed a deliberate offense on the second throw. On his third roll, he had a bad slide, which he never threw again.

Earlier this week, Chopra won a silver medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games, when he also broke his own national record in the 89.30m throw. His first national record was 88.07 m, which he set in Patiala in March last year.

Oliver Helander from Finland, who won gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games with a performance of 89.83 m, did not show up on Saturday, even though his name was written.

Chopra will next take part in the Stockholm part of the Diamond League on June 30.