News Sports Other Neeraj Chopra creates history, becomes first Indian track & field athlete to be ranked World No.1

Neeraj Chopra creates history, becomes first Indian track & field athlete to be ranked World No.1

Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian track and field athlete to become No.1 in the world. He was recently seen in action in the Doha Diamond League.

Neeraj Chopra Image Source : GETTYNeeraj Chopra

Reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra on Monday scripted history when he became the new World No.1 Javelin thrower. The ace Javelin thrower Chopra has become the first Indian track and field athlete to be crowned World No.1.

The 25-year-old Neeraj takes the lead from the current world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada to top the rankings released by World Athletics. He takes a 22-point lead from Peters and has 1455 points to his name.

Top 5 Javelin throwers in the world:

  • Neeraj Chopra (IND) - 1455 points
  • Anderson Peters (GRN) - 1433 points
  • Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) - 1416 points
  • Julian Weber (GER) - 1385 points
  • Arshad Nadeem (PAK) - 1306 points

Chopra was recently seen in action in the Doha Diamond League. The Indian star won the season opener with an 88.67m throw and took the world league in the prestigious Diamond League. Chopra will be seen in action Fanny Blankers-Koen Games at Hengelo in the Netherlands on June 4. He is the reigning Diamond League champion as he won the final of the prestigious event in 2022. Chopra is a force to reckon with in the world of Javelin throw sport. He has rose up the ranks and is one of the greatest track and field athletes of India.

Chopra became the first Indian track and field athlete to win a medal at Olympics and the star ended India's drought by winning the top honour - The Gold Medal in Tokyo 2020. His popularity then shooted up. Chopra then won a Silver medal at the World Athletics championships in 2022. He became only the second Indian to win a medal at the Worlds after Anju Bobby George.

Chopra then took part in the finals of the Zurich Diamond League Final in 2022. He won the Gold medal there too and became the first Indian to win the Diamond League trophy.