New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra scripted history yet again as he became the first Indian to win gold in the World Athletics Championships men’s javelin throw final. Chopra’s throw of 88.17m was a new national record and secured him the top spot on the podium.
The 24-year-old from Panipat, Haryana, had finished second in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Asian Games. He also won a silver medal at the 2017 World U20 Championships.
But this was Chopra’s first major international gold medal and it came at the biggest stage of them all. The World Athletics Championships is the most prestigious event in track and field and Chopra’s victory is a huge moment for Indian athletics.
Chopra’s throw of 88.17m was the best of the competition by a distance. The silver medal went to Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic with a throw of 86.67m, while Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic took the bronze with 85.64m.
Chopra’s victory was celebrated across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his congratulations, saying that Chopra had “made the entire nation proud”.
“What a phenomenal achievement! India is elated by Neeraj Chopra’s historic Gold in the World Athletics Championships. He has made the entire nation proud and has shown the world that India is a sporting powerhouse,” Modi tweeted.
Chopra’s victory is a major boost for Indian athletics. It shows that India can compete with the best in the world and that it has the potential to produce world-class athletes. Chopra is an inspiration to young athletes across India and his victory will help to inspire a new generation of sporting champions.