Neeraj Chopra, soldier and Gen-Zs javelin sensation wins gold at Tokyo Olympics

Neeraj Chopra, 23, won the gold medal in javelin throw in the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.

A track and field athlete par excellence, Chopra has made
an impact on the sport on a global scale and has now brought home the first-ever Olympic gold medal in Olympics. 

As an elite javelin thrower, Chopra ranks second in
the world. He is the first Indian athlete to win a World title in Track and
Field at U-20.

The Beginnings:

Neeraj Chopra was born at Khandra village in Panipat
Haryana. The 23-year-old javelin thrower first shot to fame when he won the
IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Chopra achieved a junior
world record in the tournament.

Also read| Neeraj Chopra wins gold in javelin throw, India’s first Olympic medal in athletics

The sportsman soldier

Neeraj Chopra is a junior commissioned officer in the
Indian Army. He joined the Army in 2016.

Prior credentials

Chopra won gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
Here, the 23-year-old established a new Indian national record throwing 88.06m.
Since then, Neeraj has broken his personal record throwing 88.07m at the India
Grand Prix in Patiala.

Also read | Neeraj Chopra wins gold, ends India’s 100-year wait for Olympic medal in athletics

Apart from the Asian Games, Chopra has also won gold
in three competitions in 2018, including the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in
Australia, the Sotteville Athletics Meet in France, and the Savo Games in
Finland.

Recognition

The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of the
Government of India awarded Neeraj Chopra the Arjuna award in 2018.