Aug 7, 2021
By: Mona PachakeNeeraj Chopra created history by winning the gold medal in men’s javelin throw, with a throw of 87.58 metres for India at the Tokyo Olympics.
Credit: BCCL
The 23-year old athlete hails from Haryana and is a Junior Commissioned Officer in the Indian army.
Credit: BCCL
Chopra won a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games and a gold medal again in 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships. Despite these performances, he failed to qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics .
Credit: BCCL
On 4 August 2021, he qualified for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics final in the men's javelin throw.
Credit: BCCL
His gold medal has made India surpass the tally of six medals won at the 2012 London Olympics, making it the most number of medals won by India in a single edition of the Olympics.
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Chopra is the second Indian after shooter Abhinav Bindra to win a gold medal in an individual event for independent India.
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This is the first gold medal in 100 years for India in the track and field category.
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Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced a cash reward of ₹6 crore and a government job for Neeraj Chopra.
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In the javelin throw event, Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch bagged the silver medal with a throw of 86.67m. His compatriot Vitezslav Vesley took the bronze medal with a throw of 85.44m.
Credit: BCCL