Neeraj Chopra secures historic Gold at World Athletics Championships with remarkable 88.17-meter Javelin throw

Neeraj Chopra created history by securing his first World Athletics Championships gold medal in the men's javelin throw final event in Budapest. The Indian athlete's remarkable second attempt in the final saw him launch the javelin to an impressive distance of 88.17 meters, making him the first Indian ever to achieve this feat at the World Championships.

Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, faced a challenging start in the final with his first throw reaching just 79 meters. Clearly dissatisfied with the attempt, Neeraj intentionally stepped over the line to force a foul, ensuring that the throw did not register a score. However, he saved his best for the second attempt, drawing on the tremendous crowd support to secure victory even before the javelin had landed.

The Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem finished second with a distance of 87.82 meters, closely trailing Neeraj's gold-winning performance. Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic took the bronze with a throw of 86.67 meters.

Impressive performances by Fellow Indians

India's Kishore Jena and DP Manu, also competing in javelin throw, delivered commendable performances although they did not secure podium positions. Both athletes qualified for the top-8 positions, with Jena achieving a personal best of 84.77 meters and Manu recording a throw of 84.14 meters.

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Neeraj Chopra, currently ranked as the world's no.1 javelin thrower, previously won the Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 but secured a silver at the World Championships in Eugene last year. This year, he clinched the gold in a spectacular fashion. The only other Indian to have won a medal at the World Championships is Anju Bobby George, who earned a bronze in the women's long jump in 2003 in Paris.

In the qualification round for the men's javelin final at the 2023 event, Neeraj needed just one throw to secure a place in the final. He registered a brilliant 88.77 meters in his first attempt, guaranteeing automatic qualification. In the final, Neeraj's throws ranged from 88.17m to 83.98m, following his foul in the first throw.

A Historic triumph

Neeraj Chopra's historic victory places him in an exclusive club of athletes who have simultaneously held the Olympics and World Championships titles in javelin throw. He joins the ranks of legendary athletes Jan Zelezny from the Czech Republic and Andreas Thorkildsen from Norway. Zelezny achieved gold in the Olympics in 1992, 1996, and 2000, along with World Championships titles in 1993, 1995, and 2001. Thorkildsen secured gold in the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Championships.

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Neeraj Chopra's remarkable achievement not only brings pride to India but also solidifies his status as one of the world's finest javelin throwers, marking a historic moment in the sport's history.