Neeraj Chopra received congratulations from Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur after taking home the silver medal at the World Athletics Championship on Sunday.
Thakur tweeted a video of Chopra’s winning throw, and said that he has now won medals at every Global event. “Neeraj Chopra continues his winning streak! Wins silver medal in Men’s javelin throw at @WCHoregon22 with his best throw of 88.13m, becoming the 1st Indian male and 2nd Indian to win a medal at the #WorldChampionships! Neeraj has now won medal at every Global event,” he said.
On Sunday, Neeraj Chopra made history once more as he won India’s first-ever silver medal at the World Athletics Championships.
In the javelin throw final, the 24-year-old Chopra secured the first-ever silver medal with a best throw of 88.13 metres. Additionally, he is the first male Indian track and field athlete to take home a gold at the Worlds.
Anju Bobby George, a legendary long jumper, became the first Indian to take home a medal at the World Championships. She had taken home the bronze medal in Paris in 2003.
Chopra started the competition nervously. His first throw was a foul, and after that, he recorded throws of 82.39 metres and 86.37 metres to place fourth after the first three rounds.
He went 88.13 metres on his fourth attempt, which was the throw that earned him the medal, and he held onto second position the entire time. His final two shots were also fouls.
With a best throw of 90.54 metres, defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada took home the gold. Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic won the bronze medal with a throw of 88.09 metres.