History was scripted on Sunday night when Ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra struck gold with a throw of 88.17m, becoming the first Indian to clinch a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships. The 25-year-old Chopra achieved his best throw of the day in his second attempt. He had a foul to start with, but then got 88.17m, 86.32m, 84.64m, 87.73m and 83.98m.
Chopra has now become only the second Indian, after legendary shooter Abhinav Bindra, to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships title. Bindra won the World Championships title when he was 23, and the Olympics gold at 25.
Wishes started to pour in on social media after Chopra shined at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest. The Indian cricket fraternity heaped massive praise on the superstar from Haryana for his historic achievement.
Former opener Virender Sehwag had the best message for India’s golden boy. Highlighting Chopra’s mega run, Sehwag wrote, “Fenkon toh aise fenko ki chaar log bole Kya fekta hai yaar. 88.17 mtr door Bhaala phenka and a World Athletics Championship Gold for our Champion #NeerajChopra . The mega run continues.”
Fenkon toh aise fenko ki chaar log bole Kya fekta hai yaar.
88.17 mtr door Bhaala phenka and a World Athletics Championship Gold for our Champion #NeerajChopra . The mega run continues .pic.twitter.com/9TOFl4P6uM— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 28, 2023
Here are some other reactions:
Making India proud! Congratulations on winning the gold at the World Athletics Championships @Neeraj_chopra1 bhai pic.twitter.com/jnucNiJPPo— Yuzvendra Chahal (@yuzi_chahal) August 28, 2023
8⃣8⃣.1⃣7⃣ = Neeraj Chopra claims in the #WorldAthleticsChampionships, making the whole nation proud #OneFamily @Neeraj_chopra1 pic.twitter.com/NmW4wsZ9va
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) August 28, 2023
What a champ! Congratulations @neeraj_chopra1 on being crowned the World Champion We are proud of you.— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) August 28, 2023
ᴄʜᴀᴍᴘɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ️Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra on becoming the first athlete to win Gold in the World Athletics Championship ❤️#PlayBold #WorldAthleticsChampionships #Budapest23pic.twitter.com/XRYJBsAaTV
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) August 28, 2023
We all love Gold but Neeraj Chopra Adores it… entire nation is proud of you brother @Neeraj_chopra1 pic.twitter.com/DcZNWPtVs0— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 28, 2023
Gold for our diamond!#NeerajChopra #WorldAthleticsChampionship pic.twitter.com/dM3qi6NANF— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 27, 2023
Neeraj chopra making us all proud .. first indian to win multiple world athletics championships medals.. Keep rocking @Neeraj_chopra1— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 28, 2023
AND HE HAS DONE IT!! @Neeraj_chopra1 creates HISTORY✨ Neeraj becomes 1st EVER ATHLETE to win GOLD medal in Athletics World Championships.
THE ENTIRE NATION IS PROUD OF YOU NEERAJ!! #Budapest2023 pic.twitter.com/KsZ2fKTSoN
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) August 27, 2023
And another Gold !Many congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for winning the #GoldMedal in Men’s #Javelin at World Athletics Championship with a throw of 88.17 meters.pic.twitter.com/kgWoHXh57Y
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 28, 2023
First Indian to win Gold at World Athletics Championship Golden boy makes us proud once again, congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 #WorldAthleticsChampionship pic.twitter.com/A7qske4B7m— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 28, 2023
Chopra also became only the third javelin thrower in history to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships titles after the iconic Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic and Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway.
Zelezny clinched Olympics gold in 1992, 1996 and 200 while winning World Championships titles in 1993, 1995 and 2001. Thorkildsen won gold in the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships.
With his feat on Sunday, Chopra has won every title his sport has to offer. He has won gold in the Asian Games (2018) and Commonwealth Games (2018), besides four individual Diamond League Meeting titles (two each in 2022 and 2023) and the Diamond League champion’s trophy last year.
(With Agency Inputs)
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