New Delhi (Agency): In an extraordinary feat, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in the World Athletics Championships. The 25-year-old dominated the men’s javelin event with a best throw of 88.17 meters.
Adding to India’s pride, two more athletes, Kishore Jena and DP Manu, secured the fifth and sixth positions respectively. This is the first time three Indians have finished in the top eight in any event at the World Championships.
Chopra’s impressive performance began with a foul in his first attempt. However, he quickly turned things around with a throw of 88.17 meters in his second try, leading the competition from that point. His throws registered at 86.32m, 84.64m, 87.73m, and 83.98m throughout the event.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won silver with a season’s best throw of 87.82 meters, while Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch took the bronze. The event turned into a competition primarily between India and Pakistan, as Nadeem maintained his second position after the third round.
Chopra’s victory is not only monumental for him but also for Indian sports. He joins the ranks of legendary shooter Abhinav Bindra, becoming the second Indian to hold both Olympic and World Championships titles simultaneously. Chopra, who won the Olympic gold in Tokyo 2021, had previously secured a silver in the 2022 edition of the World Championships.
The champion javelin thrower has an impressive list of titles, including gold in the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, both in 2018. He has also won multiple individual Diamond League Meeting titles in 2022 and 2023.
Chopra’s triumph in the World Championships has rejuvenated the spirits of the Indian sports community, especially after some disappointments in other categories. Though India’s men’s 4x400m relay team finished fifth and other athletes didn’t qualify for finals, Chopra’s gold offers a beacon of hope.
By capturing this gold medal, Neeraj Chopra has won every major title that his sport has to offer. His landmark achievement sends a powerful message about India’s rising status in the world of athletics, inspiring a new generation of athletes in the country.
