Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has won India another laurel
after his gold-winning performance was ranked among the 10 magical moments of Tokyo
Olympic Games by World Athletics (WA), the global governing body for track and field events. The 23-year-old clinched the maiden Olympic gold for India in
athletics with the best throw of 87.58m on August 7. He also became the only second Indian to win an individual gold medal in the Games after Abhinav Bindra.

WA said the 23-year-old’s profile had “sky-rocketed” because of
the historic feat. Chopra has become the most followed track and field athlete
in the world with a whopping 3.2 million Instagram followers from just 143,000
before his Olympic performance.

“Most keen followers of the sport had heard of Neeraj
Chopra before the Olympic Games. But after winning the javelin in Tokyo, and in
the process becoming India’s first athletics gold medallist in Olympic history,
Chopra’s profile sky-rocketed,” WA wrote on its website.

WA also ranked the Tokyo Olympic Games as the highest
quality major event in athletics history, citing the three world records, 12
Olympic records and dozens of area and national records at the mega sporting event.

“But beyond the record-breaking performances, what made the
Games truly memorable were the other moments that happened on and off the field
of play — from heart-breaking post-race interviews to mid-race fist-bumps, the
10 days of athletics action were one long emotional rollercoaster,” it said.

India’s 228-strong contingent for the Games, including 121
athletes, achieved the best-ever medal tally of 7 for the country, surpassing
the previous best of six medals in the 2012 London Olympics.

While Chopra returned with gold, Mirabai Chanu and Ravi
Kumar Dahiya brought home silver medals. PV Sindhu, Lovlina Borgohain, men’s
hockey team, and Bajrang Punia won four bronze medals for the country.

ALSO READ: Neeraj Chopra eyes World Championship title after Olympic gold

Chopra, who received a hero’s welcome upon his arrival at New
Delhi’s IGI Airport, was felicitated by Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and
Army Chief General M M Naravane on Tuesday. The Punjab government has also
announced to honour Chopra, a Subedar with the 4 Rajputana Rifles, along with other
Olympians.

A petrol pump in Gujarat is offering free fuel to people
named ‘Neeraj’ to celebrate Olympic gold medal win while the Athletics
Federation of India has announced to celebrate August 7 as National Javelin Day
in his honour.