PTI
New Delhi, July 24: Rising athletics star Neeraj Chopra scripted history by smashing the junior world record in javelin throw en route to a gold medal with a stunning effort of 86.48metres at the IAAF World U-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
After a solid opening round throw of 79.66metres, the 18-year-old Haryana lad sent the spear to a stupendous distance of 86.48metres in his second round on the penultimate day of competitions last night, nearly two metres beyond earlier world U-20 record of 84.69metres which was in the name of Latvia’s Zigismunds Sirmais.
Chopra, currently studying at DAV College in Chandigarh, in the process became the first ever Indian to hold a world record in athletics (junior and senior). He also broke the existing national senior record of 82.23metres in the name of Rajinder Singh.
His achievement was all the more stunning as his effort has put him at the eighth spot in the IAAF’s overall list of season leaders (senior outdoor list) though he could not make it to the Rio Olympics. The entry standard for Rio Olympics men’s javelin was set at 83metres and the deadline of July 11 has already passed.
His effort was also better than the gold medal winner in London Olympics (84.58metres). Chopra also became the first Indian track and field athlete to have won a gold in a World Championships.
Rio Olympics-bound Seema Punia had won a gold in women’s discus throw in the 2000 World U-20 Championships but she was stripped of the medal after testing positive for a banned substance. She later won a bronze in 2002 World U-20 Championships. Navjeet Kaur Dhillon had also won a bronze in 2004 World U-20 Championship. Legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George had won a bronze in the senior World Championships in 2003.
Chopra entered the World U-20 Championships as the season leader after his national record equalling effort of 82.23metres while winning gold in the South Asian Games in Guwahati in February, but he had not surpassed the 80-metre line since then.
PM praises Chopra
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated young javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra for his stupendous show. “Congratulations Neeraj Chopra for the outstanding sporting accomplishment. We are proud of you,” Prime Minister Modi wrote on his personal twitter handle. Congratulating Chopra on his remarkable feat, sports minister Vijay Goel announced a cash award of Rs 10 lakh.