AUGUST 7, 2021
Tokyo (Japan) : Neeraj Chopra on Saturday rewrote history as he won the Gold medal for India in Javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. This is the first time in nearly 121 years when India has won a Gold medal at field and track events. Before Neeraj, British-Indian athlete Norman Gilbert Pritchard had won a medal at the 1900 Paris Olympics.
In six attempts, the 23-year-old had thrown 87.03m, 87.58m and 76.79m on his first three throws while he had fouled on his fourth and fifth. Neeraj’s sixth and last throw was 84.24m. Meanwhile, Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch won Silver with a best attempt of 86.67m while Vitezslav Vesely claimed the Bronze with 85.44m.
With Neeraj’s Gold medal win, the Indian contingent now has seven medals in its kitty. The country has now gone past the 2012 London Olympics tally when it had won six medals. In the ongoing Tokyo 2020, Bajrang Punia (Bronze), Mirabai Chanu (Silver), PV Sindhu (Bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (Bronze), men’s hockey team ( Bronze) and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (Silver) have won medals for India.
Neeraj Chopra celebrates winning the gold medal in the final of the men’s javelin throw at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. (AP/PTI)
Neeraj, meanwhile, had announced his arrival in style in the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday when he threw a monstrous throw of 86.65m and automatically qualified for the final after just his first attempt. He had a personal best of 88.07 metres which was also his season-best before starting his Olympics campaign.
PM Modi, President Kovind congratulate
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated Neeraj over his historic win. In a Tweet, PM Modi said that “what Neeraj has achieved today will be remembered forever”. “The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold,” he tweeted.
President Ram Nath Kovind also congratulated Neeraj and called his win “unprecedented”, adding that his javelin Gold has broken several “barriers” and scripted history. “You bring home the first-ever track and field medal to India in your first Olympics. Your feat will inspire our youth. India is elated! Heartiest congratulations,” President Kovind tweeted.
Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, meanwhile, said that Neeraj has done a “fantastic job” as he congratulated him on behalf of 135 crore people of India. Thakur also said that Neeraj’s win would inspire the upcoming generation to play sport and win more medals for India in the future.
“The world was facing COVID-19 pandemic, it was not easy for any athlete, association and the government also to prepare for such events. The Government of India tried its best to send athletes overseas and look after their training. I am glad India has won the highest ever medals,” he told news agency ANI.
Courtesy/Source: Jagran Sports Desk
