Sports Desk, 28th August: In a historic achievement for India, ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra secured the nation’s first-ever gold medal at the World Athletics Championships held in Budapest. The early hours of Monday witnessed a remarkable performance by Chopra, as he clinched the coveted gold medal with an exceptional throw of 88.17 meters.
Chopra’s victory was hard-fought, as he edged out Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem by a margin of less than a meter in the final of the men’s javelin throw event. Throughout the competition, Neeraj Chopra displayed unwavering excellence, consistently achieving impressive distances with throws of 86.32 meters, 84.64 meters, 87.73 meters, and 83.98 meters.
Notably, two other Indian athletes, Kishore Jena and DP Manu, also participated in the event, with Jena securing an admirable fifth position and Manu finishing in sixth place.
Neeraj Chopra’s achievement holds further significance as he now joins the ranks of legendary shooter Abhinav Bindra as the only second Indian athlete to simultaneously hold Olympic and World Championships titles.
Chopra’s journey to this momentous victory was marked by determination and resilience. After a brief setback due to an injury that caused him to miss some competitions following his win at the Diamond League 2023 event in Doha in May, Neeraj Chopra’s triumphant return to the world stage is a testament to his indomitable spirit and dedication.