Neeraj Chopra, in a historic moment for Indian Athletics, secured the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event at the World Athletics Championships hosted in Budapest, Hungary. Earning the title of the ‘golden boy of Indian athletics’ he etched his name in the records of history by emerging as the first Indian athlete to claim a gold medal at this esteemed championship.
Neeraj in his second attempt in the final launched a javelin to a distance of 88.17 meters, which was the highest in the event. His extraordinary achievement unfolded in the early hours of August 28, as he faced off against contenders from around the world.
Displaying exceptional skills, he recorded an impressive throw of 88.17 meters on his second attempt, establishing his complete supremacy throughout the event. His performance in his event also marked a noteworthy improvement from the 2022 edition of his world championship, where he secured a silver medal.
The reigning Olympic gold medalist encountered a less-than-ideal beginning in the final round, achieving a distance of only 79 meters which showed his clear dissatisfaction with his throw, and eventually decided not to register the score at all. Instead, he deliberately stepped the line to force a foul.
However, he reserved his finest performance for the second attempt in the final. Propelled by an immense wave of crowd support, he took his run and in his characteristic manner, began to celebrate even before the javelin made its landing.
Neeraj’s exceptional performance not only secured him a gold medal but also established him as a pioneer for Indian sports on the international stage.
Who achieved the second and the third position?
Arshad Nadeem, hailing from Pakistan, who was another strong contender, closely followed Neeraj’s accomplishment, securing a silver medal. Nadeem, who previously showcased his talents on the stage of the Commonwealth Games, delivered a commendable throw of 87.82 meters.
Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic achieved the third stop on the podium by securing the bronze medal with a distance of 86.67 meters.
Among the remaining Indian Javelin throwers in the competition, Kishore Jena and DP Manu showcased remarkable performances, although they didn’t manage to secure positions on the podium. Both the athletes secured their places in the top-8 rankings by finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. He attained his personal best with a registered throw of 84.77 meters as compared to his previous highest distance of 84.14 meters.
