Neeraj Chopra won the men's javelin on Saturday with a best throw of 87.58 metres, claiming a historic first Olympic gold in athletics for India.
Neeraj Chopra, who brought India a first Olympic gold medal in athletics, received a brilliant reception from the Indian athletes at the Tokyo Olympic village.
After winning a historic Olympic gold, Neeraj Chopra said that his aim now is to breach the 90m mark. The Javelin thrower achieved his personal best (88.07m) in March this year.
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Saturday became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, out-performing the field by quite a distance to notch up the first track-and-field Games medal for the country.
23-year-old Chopra became the country's first track-and-field Olympic medallist with his gold, which was India's first since shooter Abhinav Bindra's win in the 2008 Beijing Games.
The Haryana athlete, who is a Subedar with 4 Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army, clinched the gold in the javelin throw with an attempt of 87.58 metres.
Chopra also revealed that he went completely blank before his last throw as realisation dawned that he had managed to secure an unparalleled top finish at the Games here.
The 28-year-old Vetter had come into the Olympics as a hot favourite for gold, having thrown 90m plus on seven occasions between April and June but he was shockingly eliminated after the first three throws in the final.
The number 8758 is inspired by Chopra's winning throw that sent the javelin to a distance of 87.58 metres.
The star athlete from Panipat district in Haryana created history after he clinched the gold in javelin throw with an attempt of 87.58 metres, becoming only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics.
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who scripted history by winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics, pointed out that any sport at the Olympics isn't a one-day event. The 23-year-old said that years of practice and the support of many people have enabled him to achieve the unprecedented milestone.
Chopra's family said the entire village and even people from neighbouring villages had been watching his performance for the past few days on television sets installed at public places.
The iconic sprinter, who was fondly known as the 'Flying Sikh', had often talked about his deep desire to see an Indian win a track and field Olympic medal.
Bindra, who won gold in 10m air rifle shooting at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, told Chopra: "Thanks to you, we have finished our Tokyo endeavour on a great high."
Salman Khan on Saturday congratulated javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra for bagging a gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj created history as he became the first from the country to win gold in track and field in the Olympics.
Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, out-performing the field by some distance to immortalise himself as the first track-and-field medal winner from the country.
PM Modi on Saturday congratulated javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra who won Gold medal at Tokyo Olympics today. He said that his performance will encourage many young athlete to opt for such games. He also invited him into 15th Aug program in which he will interact with the Olympics players directly.
With the addition of Chopra's gold on the last day of their competitive schedule, India signed off with seven medals in all, including two silver and four bronze, the last of which was delivered by superstar wrestler Bajrang Punia on the day.
Usha, fondly called the 'Payyoli Express', had made the world realise India's potential in athletics when she missed the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Chopra's other achievements include gold medals in the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, besides the top finish in the 2017 Asian Championships. He is also a 2018 Arjuna Awardee.
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