Tokyo Olympics: Neeraj Chopra scripts history, wins India's 1st Olympic gold in athletics

Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra scripted history, winning India's maiden Olympic gold in athletics in 120 years at the Olympic Stadium. For independent India, this is the first athletics medal.

Tokyo: Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra scripted history, winning India's first Olympic gold in athletics in 120 years at the 2020 Olympic Games here at the Olympic Stadium. It is also India's third athletics medal at the Olympics. Neeraj won the gold ahead of Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch (86.67m) and Vesely Vitezslav (85.44m).

In the 1900 Paris Olympics, Norman Pritchard, who represented British India, won two silver in 200m hurdles and 200 sprints, respectively.

On Saturday, the 23-year-old Neeraj, who is ranked 16th in the World Athletics ranking, threw 87.03 metres in his first attempt and surpassed his figure in the second attempt, throwing 87.58m. However, his third attempt was below par 76.79m and fourth one was invalid. His fifth throw was 84.24m. But, his second attempt was enough for him to stay on top of the standings and won the much desired gold medal.

The 2016 World Athletics junior gold medallist, Neeraj threw his personal best, also a national record, of 88.07m in March 2021 at Indian Grand Prix 3 at Patiala.

Neeraj is also the reigning Asian Games (2018) gold medallist.

The Indian javelin thrower qualified for the Tokyo 2020 final with the best throw of 86.65m.

In 2018, he also won Commonwealth Games gold in Gold Coast, Australia.

After recovering from elbow surgery in 2019, which kept him away from the pitch for almost a year, Neeraj Chopra confirmed his Tokyo berth with a throw of 87.86m at the 2020 ACNE League meeting at Potchefstroom, South Africa.