Man with the golden arm: Neeraj Chopra is India’s first-ever gold medallist in Olympics athletics

Tokyo, August 7

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra today became only the second Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics, outperforming the field by some distance to immortalise himself as the first track and field Games medallist of the country. The 23-year-old, son of a farmer from Khandra village near Haryana’s Panipat, produced a second round throw of 87.58m in the final to stun the athletics world and end India’s 100-year wait for a track and field medal.

It feels unbelievable. This is our first Olympics medal in a very long time, and in athletics it is the first time we have won gold, so it’s a proud moment for me and my country.

His was the country’s seventh medal and first gold at this edition and he joined shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008 Beijing Games) in an elite club of India’s individual gold winners at the showpiece.

With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games. Apart from Chopra’s gold, India have won two silver and four bronze medals.

Czech Republic throwers Jakub Vadlejch (86.67m) and Vitezslav Vesely (85.44m) took the silver and bronze, respectively. Season leader and pre-tournament gold favourite Johannes Vetter of Germany, who had thrown the spear to over 90m seven times between April and June, was shockingly eliminated after the first three throws as he was placed ninth with a best effort of 82.52m. — PTI

Hard-luck stories of Indian athletes

India’s hard-luck stories in track and field in the Olympic Games started right after Independence. At London 1948, triple jumper Henry Rebello was a favourite for a medal. He won an event for foreign athletes in London just before the Olympics, and led the field in the preliminary rounds. However, he pulled a muscle in his first jump in the final and had to withdraw. At Rome 1960, Milkha Singh was favourite to win a medal in the men’s 400m race. But an error in judgment, which he regretted forever, he slowed down before the final turn, and South Africa’s Malcolm Spence edged ahead and ended up with bronze. PT Usha missed a medal by a whisker at Los Angeles 1984. Before the Olympics, she had beaten American favourite Judi Brown at a meet in California. In the Olympics semis, she again beat Brown. However, in the final, Usha was slow off the blocks and finished one-hundredth of a second behind the bronze winner, while Brown won silver. TNS

The medal Milkha wanted to see

Chandigarh: The great Milkha Singh’s famous wish of seeing an Indian win an Olympics medal in a track and field event could not be fulfilled in his lifetime. But Neeraj Chopra made up with a gold — and not just any medal — less than two months after the legendary athlete died on June 18 this year. “Milkha Singh wanted to hear the national anthem in a stadium. He is no longer with us but his dream has been fulfilled,” Chopra said, dedicating the gold medal to the great athlete. “I dedicate this medal to Milkha Singh. I hope he’s watching upon me from wherever he is.” The legend’s son, golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, thanked Chopra. Jeev said, ‘’Dad from above is crying in joy. His dream has come true. Proud moment for India. I salute him for his determination and hard work. God bless him.’’ Gaurav Kanthwal