Yes, you read it correctly, reigning Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is now the World No.1 in the men’s javelin throw rankings as per the data shared by the World Athletics. The track and field athlete topped the list with a whopping 1455 points, 22 more than reigning champion Anderson Peters from Grenada.
Neeraj Chopra is the shining face of Indian javelin throw, with a number of accolades to his credit. Born on December 24, 1997, in Panipat, Haryana, Chopra gained international recognition for his outstanding performance in numerous international matches.
Neeraj, a junior commissioned officer in the Indian Army, rose to prominence in 2016 when he won the gold medal at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, with a throw of 86.48 meters. The achievement made him the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal at a World Championship in any track and field event.
Neeraj continued to make significant strides in his career. In 2018, he won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, with a throw of 86.47 meters. The same year, he secured the silver medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a throw of 88.06 meters.
One of the most remarkable moments in Neeraj Chopra’s career came in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics- he won the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw event with a throw of 87.58 meters, becoming the first Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field. His historic achievement brought immense pride to India and made him a national hero.
Barely a year after his Olympic feat, Neeraj clinched the silver at the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Oregon, becoming the first Indian to win a medal at the championship. He logged 88.13 metres to settle for the second spot.
Neeraj won the Diamond League 2022 finals held in Zurich, where he claimed the prestigious Diamond League trophy, becoming the first Indian to do so.
Neeraj’s winning streak came to a halt due to his injury but he took off yet again by making a comeback at the Doha Diamond League on May 5 where he won with a throw of 88.67 m.
Neeraj will soon compete at the FBK Games 2023 on June 4 in the Netherlands, which again is an event to look forward to. The 25- year-old javelin champion will then participate at the Paavo Nurmi Games 2023 in Turku, Finland on June 13.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted congratulating Olympian Neeraj Chopra, “Many congratulations to Neeraj Chopra on attaining the World Number 1 Rank in Men’s Javelin throw category. Every Indian is proud of your extraordinary achievement! Your hard work and never give up attitude has earned this feat. Best wishes for future endeavours.”
Neeraj Chopra’s success is a testament to his talent, hard work, and dedication to his sport. He continues to inspire young athletes in India and around the world with his remarkable achievements in javelin throwing. His achievements give courage to the young athletes to do wonders in any field of their choice. It also helps pave the path for sports bodies in India to enable athletes from across the nation who dream of making a mark in their sport.
