New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra scripted history on Tuesday by becoming India’s first-ever World Athletics Championship gold medalist in the men’s javelin throw event.
The 25-year-old from Haryana produced a best throw of 88.17 meters in his second attempt to top the field at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary.
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Chopra’s throw was a personal best and also the second-best throw in the history of the World Championships. He bettered the previous mark of 86.74 meters set by Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic in 1996.
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Chopra’s gold medal was the icing on the cake for a stellar season for the Indian javelin thrower. He had earlier won gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, the Asian Games, and the Commonwealth Games.
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Two other Indians, Kishore Jena and DP Manu, also made the finals of the men’s javelin throw event.
Jena finished fifth with a throw of 84.77 meters, while Manu was sixth with a best throw of 84.14 meters.
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The World Athletics Championships gold was the one missing in Chopra’s golden set, and he did it in style. In fact, his second throw was hurled a few meters behind the foul line, and there was scope to add a few more.
Chopra’s victory is a major boost for Indian athletics and will inspire the next generation of athletes.