India is quite famous for its cricketers, badminton players, and hockey players. However, track and field athletes rarely get a chance to make a huge mark on international sports. The Panipat-born javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, however, has changed all that. Earlier, he was the first U-20 athlete from India to hold a world record in Track and Field.
And now, Neeraj Chopra in the final event of Javelin’s throw on Saturday turned out to be the champ who won an individual gold in the Olympics. He has out-performed his opponents by quite a distance and brought glory by bagging the first track-and-field Games medal for India. His second throw in the finals which reached 87.58m stunned the athletics world and also helped India end it’s 100-year thirst for a track and field medal and recognition in the Olympics events. Neeraj won the seventh medal for India in this season and apparently it’s the first gold in this Olympics. He has joined the league of shooter Abhinav Bindra who won an individual gold in 2008 Beijing Games. With Chopra’s gold in hand, India has surpassed it’s own best of six medals which was achieved in the year 2012 in London Games. It’s really a proud thing to know that Neeraj Chopra will be taking Indian flag at the Tokyo Olympics closing ceremony.
HISTORY. MADE.
Neeraj Chopra of #IND takes #gold in the #Athletics men’s javelin final on his Olympic debut!
He is the first Indian to win an athletics medal and only the second to win an individual medal!@WorldAthletics | #StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | @WeAreTeamIndia pic.twitter.com/zBtzHNqPBE
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 7, 2021
The reigning Asian and Commonwealth Games champion, Neeraj Chopra has proved himself to be India’s finest javelin thrower. He grew up in Khandra village in Haryana’s Panipat district. While growing up, it’s surprising to know that he never heard of this sport. But today, he is the only reason that Indian youngsters have gravitated towards the javelin.
Entry Of Neeraj Chopra in Tokyo Olympic Final
The country, India has pinned their hopes for an Olympic medal from every athlete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, only a few of them have succeeded to win on the grand stage. Neeraj Chopra was carrying the dreams of 1.3 billion people on his shoulders and did not disappoint us at all. He kicked off his first-ever Olympics campaign in style. And now at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he has proved it to the world that he’s the best in men’s javelin by giving a stunning through of 87.58m. Even in his first attempt at the Olympics, he proved to be a serious contender by reaching the length of 86.65m.
.@Neeraj_chopra1 made entering an Olympic final look so easy! 😲😱
Neeraj’s FIRST attempt of 86.65m in his FIRST-EVER #Olympics was recorded as the highest in men’s Group A, beating @jojo_javelin‘s 85.64m 👏#StrongerTogether | #UnitedByEmotion | #Tokyo2020 | #BestOfTokyo pic.twitter.com/U4eYHBVrjG
— #Tokyo2020 for India (@Tokyo2020hi) August 4, 2021
Going back, Neeraj Chopra finished on top of Group A and in the javelin final. His biggest rival and a contender for Gold was Johannes Vetter (from Germany). He qualified for the finals in his third attempt with a throw of 85.64m. Lassi Etelatalo from Finland was the third automatic qualification with a throw of 84.50m. And once he got entry into the finals, we all know about the legendary tale how he achieved the gold on 7th August 2021.
Reaction Of Netizens After Getting The Gold
This is not only a medal this is the dream of every Indian. It took 13 years to fulfill this dream.This is very emotional and proud moment for us. #NeerajChopra #gold made whole nation proud #NationalAnthem pic.twitter.com/jNEfyRa3mG
— SS (@indian_1993) August 7, 2021
You've made the whole country proud today #NeerajChopra 🏅🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/tYoCoMHgL7
— Dsrofficial10 (@Dsrofficial10) August 7, 2021
An unprecedented win 👏🏻
Historic moment for the entire nation. Congratulations #NeerajChopra for winning the first ever athletics #Gold for India in the Olympics ! #TokyoOlympics
– #Prabhas via Facebook pic.twitter.com/96t0276nvd— TeamTWTP ᴿᵃᵈʰᵉˢʰʸᵃᵐ💞 (@TeamTWTPOffi) August 7, 2021
Winning an individual gold in track & field is an extra ordinary achievement in a country where this sport is non existent at grass root level. #NeerajChopra pic.twitter.com/GxsA8Izq0e
— Sahil (@TheAceGuy_) August 7, 2021
We are so proud 😊💙🇮🇳
This made this Olympics Best in recent ones
Very Very Happy For #NeerajChopra
1st Ever Gold Medal🥇 in Athletics 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EukQOP0bxW— Ranjith kumar (@ChukkaRanjith15) August 7, 2021
The trendlist is so beautiful. This is the best trendlist 😭#NeerajChopra #Gold pic.twitter.com/OWPlEjfjg6
— 𝓚𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲 | HBD Anant ki Preeti♥️ (@Kriti_SNS) August 7, 2021
Fab 🙌 Pride and joy we are filled with❤️ Congratulations #NeerajChopra pic.twitter.com/2XfJTMEMDg
— Rachel White (@whitespeaking) August 7, 2021
Reaction Of Netizens After Neeraj’s Performance Before Winning Gold
The netizens went crazy after watching the stunning javelin throw of Neeraj Chopra in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Check out some of the amazing reactions of the people:
#Tokyo2020 | #Athletics @Neeraj_chopra1 qualifies for #JavelinThrow Finals in style 😎
by throwing an impressive distance of 86.65m well beyond qualifying mark in his very first attempt!
💪Rorboy
This roar should continue Neeraj.#Go4Gold 👏 🇮🇳— Viku Choudhary chefs 👨🍳 (@Rinku15393877) August 4, 2021
WHAT A START TO THE DAY! ❤️
Neeraj Chopra in his first attempt has breached the qualification mark (83.50m) with a throw of 86.65m and has qualified for the Men’s Javelin Throw Final 🤩
He finished top of his qualification group 👏
Take a bow! 🙌#Tokyo2020 #Olympics
— Babbusingh (@Babbusi32055872) August 4, 2021
Awesome Neeraj🇮🇳❤️ pic.twitter.com/I6ckVqj0YN
— Siddharth Arikadi (@siddarikadi1) August 4, 2021
neeraj chopra is looking like next abhinav bindra focused and determined
go for gold #GoForGold— kunal panwar (@kunalpanwar7611) August 4, 2021
He is a Rockstar and must win. Such a stud.
— Triveni Tigress 🇮🇳 (@triveni4get) August 4, 2021
Make way guys, the champion has arrived! #NeerajChopra
You made an entire nation stop and stare at your stellar performance 💫✨
All the best for the #Finals— Things2do (@_things2do) August 4, 2021
He came. He saw. and He Conquered! 🙌 Congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 for debuting in the Olympics with a spectacular 86.65m #JavelinThrow #teamindia #Tokyo2020 #TokyoOlympics #GoForGold #finals
— 9Boosters (@9boosters) August 4, 2021
A Young Sensation
Neeraj Chopra debut in 2016 and became famous overnight. 18-year-old Neeraj changed the course of his life at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Poland while inspiring scores of youngsters in India to pick up the 800-gram spear. India’s lone world record holder athlete javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra hurled the spear to 86.48m. It set a new junior world record and won the gold medal. It put Neeraj Chopra at No. 11 in the senior rankings despite being a junior athlete.
Journey From Being An Overweight Guy To Javelin Champion
The athlete whose javelin struck gold at the just-concluded Commonwealth Games, Neeraj’s boyhood was filled with stealing mangoes, poking beehives, and fighting with friends. Just like others, he was also a foodie while growing up. With too much, it came with too many calories as well. As a result, stepped into his teens chubby and flabby, weighing 90 kg at the age of 12. However, those days are long gone and now he is a true Olympic medal prospect.
Neeraj’s Personal Best
Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. He not just set a then-new Indian national record of 88.06m, but also, was the flag bearer at the opening ceremony. The Panipat-born javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has broken his own record by throwing 88.07m at the Indian Grand Prix in 2021. He was the 2016 IAAF World U20 champion and also won gold at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Neeraj Chopra In The Indian Army
Neeraj Chopra had joined the Indian Army in order to financially support his farmer father. He feels that this satisfaction of supporting his father will enhance his performance, and we couldn’t agree more. He has been appointed a Junior Commissioned Officer. Neeraj trains with one of the world’s most renowned coaches, Uwe Hohn, and will be aiming to break the European deadlock of the sport. If you don’t know, Uwe Hohn is the only javelin thrower who threw the javelin over 100m meters.
हार्दिक बधाई
Subedar Neeraj Chopra, VSM #RajputanaRifles, #IndianArmy won a Bronze medal in Javelin with a throw of 86.79 meters at Kuortane Games, Finland.#Proud#MissionOlympics pic.twitter.com/Tewp7BUO0r
— ADG PI – INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) June 28, 2021
Neeraj Chopra Is The Ray Of Hope Of Billions Of People
Earlier, Abhinav Bindra bagged the gold in shooting at the Beijing Olympics 2008. India’s hope for the second individual Olympic gold medal after that has not been fulfilled. It would be independent India’s first-ever gold in athletics if Neeraj Chopra wins a gold medal after 13 long years. It would be independent India’s first-ever gold in athletics. Without a doubt, Neeraj has blessings from billions of people from India as he qualified for the men’s javelin final in the first attempt of 86.65m at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympics were delayed last year. However, fans still saw a shining light that things would get better and the mega event would be held with the same charm and fireworks. Unfortunately, the situation has not changed much even after a year, and Tokyo, the venue of the game is facing new waves of Coronavirus. Fortunately, they believe in the show must go on, and that is why the Olympics finally started on 23rd July 2021.
✨#Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony✨
Boxing legend @MangteC & Men’s Hockey Skipper @manpreetpawar07 will lead out #TeamIndia at the @Tokyo2020 Opening Ceremony.
Watch the event live on @ddsportschannel and @SonySportsIndia at 4:30 pm (IST) tomorrow, 23 July#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/qI4qvWtc3m
— SAIMedia (@Media_SAI) July 22, 2021
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has already termed the event as “Games of Hope”. Although a major part of the population in Japan is against holding the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is hoping to win over the people by providing a sporting spectacle.
Read more: 11 Indian Sports Heroes With An Inspiring Journey To Success By Overcoming All Odds
