At the Tokyo Olympics, Neeraj Chopra won the javelin throw. India has won a gold medal in field and track events for the first time in 121 years. Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic takes silver, and Vitezslav Vesely of Slovakia takes bronze.
Key Summary
- Neeraj Chopra won the javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
- Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic takes silver, and Vitezslav Vesely of Slovakia takes bronze.
- This is the first time India has won a gold medal in field and track events in roughly 121 years.
- The 23-year-old’s three throws were 87.03m, 87.58m, and 76.79m.
On Saturday, Neeraj Chopra made history by being the first Indian to win a gold medal in the Javelin Throw at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. This is the first time India has won a gold medal in field and track events in roughly 121 years. Norman Gilbert Pritchard, a British-Indian athlete, had won a medal at the 1900 Paris Olympics before Neeraj.
The 23-year-first old’s three throws were 87.03m, 87.58m, and 76.79m, respectively, while his fourth and fifth throws were fouled. The sixth and final throw by Neeraj was 84.24 meters.
With Neeraj’s gold medal, the Indian team now has a total of seven medals. The country has already surpassed its six-medal haul from the 2012 London Olympics.
Meanwhile, Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic took Silver with an 86.67m best effort, while Vitezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic earned Bronze with an 85.44m best attempt.
President Kovind and Prime Minister Modi congratulate each other.
Neeraj has been congratulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his historic victory. PM Modi said in a tweet that “what Neeraj has accomplished today will be remembered forever.” “Neeraj, a young man, has performed admirably. He played with an incredible amount of heart and intensity. Congratulations on earning the gold, he deserves it “He sent out a tweet.
President Ram Nath Kovind congratulated Neeraj on his victory, calling it “unique,” and said that his javelin gold broke multiple “barriers” and changed the course of history. “In your first Olympics, you deliver India its first-ever track and field medal. Our youth will be inspired by your achievement. India is overjoyed! Sincere congratulations, “President Ram Nath Kovind sent out a tweet.
What makes Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal the most significant India has achieved during the decade
If you stayed for Neeraj Chopra’s post-event celebration, you would have noticed something weird yet unique. In the stadium, there was absolutely no one left. Only a few Indian and Czech fans were present to cheer on the final three javelin throwers. While everyone was jubilating at one end of the stadium, Neeraj vanished from view for a brief while. Later, it cut to him jogging on the track, his head held high and the Indian flag flying in the air. He wasn’t sprinting for the audience or the spectators. He was racing in front of 1.3 billion people in his home country. He was well aware of it, and this was his expression of thanks to the nation that had awaited this moment for so long.
This gold medal is significant since it is India’s first ever medal in an athletic event. The country has had to wait a long time, and we can confidently state that it has been well worth the wait. Not to detract from the accomplishments of other athletes, but this will go down as one of the greatest sporting moments in Indian history. It took over a century for the country’s flag to be raised in an athletic event. Allow that to sink in. It’s a proud moment, and it’s one of the rare times in recent decades that the entire country has been hooked to their phones, laptops, and televisions.
GOLD at the 2016 Junior World Championships
