Neeraj Chopra Wins World Athletics Championships Gold: Wishes Pour In For History-Making Javelin Thrower

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu led the congratulatory messages on Monday (August 28) for history-making Neeraj Chopra, who won a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships.

Chopra on Sunday (August 27) scripted history yet again as he became the first Indian to win a gold medal in the World Athletics Championships with a big throw of 88.17m in the men's javelin final in Budapest, Hungary.

PM Modi said Chopra's dedication, precision and passion make him not just a champion in athletics but a symbol of unparalleled excellence in the entire sports world.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said, "The talented @Neeraj_chopra1 exemplifies excellence. His dedication, precision and passion make him not just a champion in athletics but a symbol of unparalleled excellence in the entire sports world. Congrats to him for winning the Gold at the World Athletics Championships."

President Murmu said Chopra's performance will inspire millions of the country's youth and wished he adds more such feats, congratulating India's first-ever World Champion in athletics..

"India is proud of Neeraj Chopra. I convey my heartiest congratulations to him. I wish his legend grows with more such feats," the President said on microblogging site X.

"Neeraj Chopra adds yet another golden page to the history of Indian sports by becoming the first ever Indian to win a gold medal in World Athletics Championships. His superlative performance in the javelin throw finals at Budapest will inspire millions of our youth."

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.

Pakistan's reigning Commonwealth Games champion Arshad Nadeem took the silver with his season's best throw of 87.82m, while Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic got the bronze.

In another first, three Indians finished in top eight with Kishore Jena (84.77m) and DP Manu (84.14m) taking the fifth and sixth spots, respectively. Never before had three Indians finished in the top eight of an event in the World Championships.

"It is a matter of great national pride that three Indians, Neeraj Chopra, D.P. Manu and Kishore Jena together competed in the final round of the World Athletics Championships 2023 javelin event and they finished in the top six. I congratulate each one of them," Murmu said.

She said the players have taken Indian athletics to unprecedented heights adding, "I wish them many more laurels in the future," the President said.

Chopra has now become only the second Indian - after legendary shooter Abhinav Bindra - to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships titles. Bindra had won the World Championships title when he was 23, and the Olympics gold at 25.