Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the elusive gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, bringing an end to India’s long wait for an athletics medal at the Summer Games. The newly-crowned Olympic gold-medallist Neeraj dedicated his historic achievement to sprint legend Milkha Singh, leaving his son and golfer Jeev Milkha Singh overwhelmed with “eternal gratitude.”

“Milkha Singh wanted to hear the national anthem in a stadium. He is no longer with us but his dream has been fulfilled,” the 23-year-old javelin thrower said dedicating the achievement to the iconic sprinter, who had finished fourth in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

Neeraj Chopra produced a second-round throw of 87.58m in the finals at the Tokyo Games to claim the country’s first track-and-field medal. With this, he also became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics.

“Dad waited so many years for this to happen. His dream has finally come true with India’s first athletic gold. I am crying as I tweet this. And I am sure dad is crying up above. Thank you for making this happen,” Jeev posted.

“Not only did you win us a first-ever athletics gold medal in the #OlympicGames, you even dedicated it to my father. The Milkha family is eternally grateful for this honour,” he added.

The iconic sprinter, who was fondly known as the ‘Flying Sikh‘, had often talked about his deep desire to see an Indian win a track and field Olympic medal.

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, PT Usha came close to winning a medal in women’s 400m hurdles but, like Milkha, finished fourth.

Jeev said had his father and mother Nirmal Kaur, who also died due to COVID-related complications, been alive today they would have been very happy watching Chopra win gold and other players doing well at the Olympics.

“Every Olympics, they used to watch on TV and never missed a game. Be it hockey, athletics, they used to watch keenly and discuss in the evening,” he said.