Neeraj has done it again! A year after becoming the first Indian to win a track and field gold medal at the Olympic Games, this golden boy has become only the 2nd Indian to win a medal in the World Athletics Championships in Oregon,USA.
A serving JCO of 4 RAJ RIF , Neeraj Chopra, VSM,PVSM became the second Indian to secure a medal for India in javelin throw as he won silver with a massive clutch 88.13m throw on his fourth attempt. Earlier another Indian athlete won a medal at the World Championships was Anju Bobby George (bronze) in 2003.
“The wind was blowing from the front at the stadium, making it very challenging for me. I’m satisfied with the eventual result but I got to learn a lot from competing in these conditions,” Neeraj said in a press conference after the final.
On being asked how the Grenadian found it easy on such a difficult day, Neeraj replied with a smile: “It may have seemed easy to you but he put in a lot of effort. It was challenging for everyone today. It was a different sort of challenge in the Olympics, so challenging for him that he couldn’t get into the final. It is not nice to compare athletes like this, everyone’s body is different and they react differently.”
“Our star-boy, Neeraj Chopra has once again shown the world, the power of determination, bypassing all preconceived notions as he dexterously threw his javelin at the World Athletics Championship at Oregon. The Nation is proud of you for bringing home a silver medal & setting a new record.”
- Said Manoj Tewari,former International Cricketer and Minister of state for Affairs of Sports and Youth, West Bengal.
After Neeraj’s success Indian Army shared a statement at ADGPI’s official facebook page.
“Neeraj Chopra has once again made Indian Army and the Nation proud.
Indian Army congratulates Subedar Neeraj Chopra on winning Silver Medal in men’s Javelin in World Athletics Championships Oregon 2022 with throw of 88.13 meters.”
The Indian Army who are always made more than a billion people of the Motherland feel safe by guarding our International borders with their selfless sacrifice and dedication has also been very prominent with its contribution towards sports helping the country provide some of the best athletes on the global stage.
Indian Armed forces are the major contributors towards the field of sports in India for a long time.
Services Sports Control Board is one of the best sports control boards of India.
But they are lacking in fund .If they would have got adequate funds like BCCI , I am sure they would have produced many more world class sports persons and could improve the rank of India at least within the first ten rankings in the World sports.
Chopra, who enrolled in the 4 Rajputana Rifles as a direct-entry Naib Subedar in May 2016, was given an out-of-turn promotion to the rank of Subedar in 2018 after he won gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. He was also conferred with the Arjuna Award.
Anderson Peters of Grenada took the gold with three 90m+ throws and a final hurl of 90.54 in the last attempt and won the gold medal. Jakub Vadlejch secured the bronze with a 88.09m throw.Peters is ranked one in the world this year while Neeraj is fourth.
( Author- Pratyusha Mukherjee, Journalist based in Kolkata.In her illustrated career she has covered many major events and achieved International and National media awards for Journalism.)