Neeraj Chopra is an Olympic champion! The 23-year-old created history on Saturday as he became the only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold by winning the men’s javelin throw final at Tokyo 2020. Neeraj ended India’s 121-year wait for an athletics medal with his gold in the javelin final.
Neeraj Chopra threw the javelin 87.03m in his first throw and bettered it with 87.58m but couldn’t go any further. Chopra managed four legitimate throws of 87.03m, 87.58m, 76.79m and 84.24 while his fourth and fifth throws were disqualified.
But his second throw was way better than the rest and enough to secure the gold for India.
Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal is only the second for India in individual category after Abhinav Bindra, who bagged the top prize in the 19m Air Rifle shooting event in China
Neeraj dominated the javelin final just like he did in the qualification round when he threw the javelin 86.65m to qualify for the final with his first threw.
A nation of a billion-plus was awaiting a historic medal with bated breath, knowing it is well within the country’s reach — an unprecedented feeling when it comes to track and field events at the Tokyo Games.
Neeraj has allowed expectations to hit the roof. He has done it in the past and the absence of Poland’s Marcin Krukowski and the reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott and Rio Olympics silver medalist Julius Yego puts Neeraj among the favourites.
