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Neeraj ChopraIndian javelin thrower
Date of Birth: 24.12.1997
Country:  India |
Content:
- Neeraj Chopra: An Indian Javelin Legend
- World Junior Champion and Olympic Qualifier:
- Asian Champion and Commonwealth Gold:
- National Record Holder and Arjuna Awardee:
- Asian Games Triumph and Injury Rehabilitation:
- Olympic Champion and World Title:
Neeraj Chopra: An Indian Javelin Legend
Early Life and Career:Neeraj Chopra hails from the village of Khandra in Haryana, India. He studied at DAV College in Chandigarh and joined the Indian Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer in 2016. Driven by exceptional talent, Chopra made his mark at an early age, winning a gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games and setting a new national record (82.23m).
World Junior Champion and Olympic Qualifier:
In 2016, Chopra achieved global recognition by claiming the gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. This remarkable feat also saw him establish a world junior record (86.48m). Despite his impressive performances, Chopra narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics due to missing the qualification deadline.
Asian Champion and Commonwealth Gold:
Undeterred, Chopra continued to excel, winning the gold medal at the 2017 Asian Championships with a throw of 85.23m. He went on to conquer the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, becoming the first Indian to win a javelin gold medal at the prestigious event.
National Record Holder and Arjuna Awardee:
Chopra shattered the national record multiple times. In 2018, he threw a 87.43m distance at the Diamond League in Doha. His consistent brilliance earned him the prestigious Arjuna Award in the same year. By the age of 22, he became the only athlete recommended by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for India's highest sporting honor.
Asian Games Triumph and Injury Rehabilitation:
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Chopra reigned supreme, winning the gold medal with a distance of 88.06m, setting yet another national record. However, in 2019, he faced an unfortunate setback in the form of an injury that required surgery. After a period of rehabilitation and recovery, he returned to the track stronger than ever.
Olympic Champion and World Title:
In 2021, Chopra etched his name in history by winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. With a first-attempt throw of 87.58m, he became India's only Olympic champion in athletics. His victory was dedicated to legendary Indian sprinters Milkha Singh and P. T. Usha. In 2022, he added a silver medal at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and became the World Champion in 2023 in Budapest with a throw of 88.17m.
