Neeraj Chopra created history by winning India’s first-ever gold medal at the World Athletics Championships with a 88.17m best throw in the men’s javelin throw final on Sunday in Budapest.
It is Chopra’s second and India’s only third medal at the Worlds. Last year, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist had ended the country’s 19-year-old wait to claim a first medal at the Championships since Anju Bobby George won a bronze medal at Paris 2003.
Chopra made a comeback after fouling his first attempt by taking a lead with his best throw of the javelin in his next attempt.
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Neeraj Chopra becomes 1st 🇮🇳 athlete to win a gold medal at the #WorldAthleticsChampionships 😍
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Finishing behind Chopra was Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who notched a best of 87.82m, while Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch claimed a bronze medal. Also among the top six were the two other Indians in the men’s final – a first – in Kishore Jena (84.17) and DP Manu (84.14). European champion Julian Weber finished fourth, with a best attempt of 85.79m.
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World Athletics Championships 2023 Live Updates: Neeraj Chopra wins gold with 88.17m attempt; Relay runners finish 5th; Parul Chaudhary scripts national record
The World Championships had been considered as Chopra’s final frontier, with the 25-year-old having already claimed a gold medal at the Olympics, Asian and Commonwealth Games, and a top finish in the Diamond League at the early stages of his career.
Earlier, Chopra had sent his spear to 88.77m in his first attempt in the qualification round on Friday to also qualify for 2024 Paris Olympics. It was his season’s best effort and fourth best throw of his career.
Chopra has also been chasing the elusive 90m throw and did mention it in the public ahead of the Championships earlier this month that all he needs now to achieve that mark is “the perfect day with perfect weather conditions and it will happen.”
indianexpress.com
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