Neeraj Chopra: The Golden Boy of Indian Athletics

Neeraj Chopra is a name that has become synonymous with excellence, glory, and inspiration in Indian sports. The 25-year-old javelin thrower has achieved what no other Indian track and field athlete has ever done before: winning a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships.

On August 28, 2023, Chopra created history by throwing the javelin 88.17 meters in his fifth attempt at the Budapest Olympic Stadium, beating his closest rival, Germany’s Johannes Vetter, by more than a meter. He became the first Asian athlete to win the world title in his event and the second Indian to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, after legendary shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won the 10m air rifle event in 20061.

Chopra’s golden feat came just a year after he stunned the world by winning the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo in 2021, with a throw of 87.58 meters. He was the first Indian track and field athlete to win an Olympic gold medal and the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold medal, after Bindra, who won in 20082. He was also the youngest-ever Indian Olympic gold medalist in an individual event and the only individual to have won gold on his Olympic debut2.

Chopra’s rise to fame and glory is a remarkable story of talent, hard work, determination, and perseverance. He was born in a Haryanvi Ror family in Khandra Panipat, Haryana2. He was initially persuaded to embrace sports for weight loss, as he was a chubby kid who weighed 80 kg at the age of 123. He started training in javelin throw at the age of 14, under the guidance of coach Jaiveer Choudhary at Shivaji Stadium in Panipat3.

He soon showed his potential by breaking the national junior record in 2015 with a throw of 76.50 meters. He then made his mark on the international stage by winning the gold medal at the 2016 World Junior Championships in Poland, with a world junior record throw of 86.48 meters. He became the first Indian athlete to set a world record and win a world title in any discipline2.

He continued his impressive form by winning gold medals at the 2017 Asian Championships, the 2018 Commonwealth Games (where he was India’s flag-bearer), and the 2018 Asian Games. He also qualified for the 2020 Olympics, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic2.

In 2019, he suffered an elbow injury that required surgery and kept him out of action for more than a year. He made a comeback in early 2021 and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 83.18 meters at an event in South Africa2. He then improved his personal best to 88.07 meters at another event in Portugal, before heading to Tokyo for his historic performance2.

After winning the Olympic gold medal, Chopra received unprecedented adulation and recognition from across the country and beyond. He was awarded with several honors and rewards, including the Param Vishisht Seva Medal and Vishisht Seva Medal by the Indian Army (where he serves as a Subedar), the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award (the highest sporting honor in India), and several cash prizes from various state governments and organizations2. He also became one of the most-searched Indian personalities online and one of the most visible and written-about athletes in the world3. His brand value skyrocketed with top sponsors lining up for him3.

However, Chopra did not rest on his laurels and continued to train hard for his next challenge: the World Athletics Championships. He proved his mettle once again by winning another gold medal with a brilliant performance that cemented his status as one of the best javelin throwers in history.

Chopra has now become only the second Indian, after Bindra, to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships titles. Bindra won the World Championships title when he was 23, and the Olympics gold at 25. With age on his side, Chopra is bound to achieve more success if he stays fit. He will have two Olympics and two World Championships before he turns 303.

Chopra is not only a champion athlete but also a role model and an inspiration for millions of Indians, especially youngsters who aspire to pursue their dreams in sports. He has shown that nothing is impossible with passion, dedication, and discipline. He has also brought pride and joy to a nation that has long been starved of glory in athletics.

Neeraj Chopra is truly the golden boy of Indian athletics and a legend in the making.

For more details follow Abhinav Gupta on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/its_abhiji/