Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra won India’s first Gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Neeraj Chopra won India’s first-ever Gold medal in Athletics for India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the first-ever medal in Athletics for the nation in the post-Independence era.
The Indian came first following a stunning throw of 87.58 meters in his second turn, even as the entire nation erupted online to laud the 23-year old’s stunning achievement.
Chopra beat the likes of the dangerous Czechs, Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesely, and German Johannes Vetter to win the coveted Gold.
His home state of Haryana was quick to announce prize money of 6 crores and a Grade-1 government post for Chopra.
Elsewhere, India’s first medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Mirabai Chanu, who won silver in weightlifting (in the women’s 49kg division) congratulated Chopra on his remarkable feat.
Taking to Twitter, she wrote:
“Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 on winning first ever gold medal in Athletics for our country. Really a proud moment for our nation.”
The last person to win a medal for India in Athletics at the Olympics was Norman Pritchard, who won 2 Silver medals at the 1900 Olympic Games.
There were notable athletes like Milkha Singh, P.T Usha, Anju Bobby George, but none of them were able to win a medal.
On the very first day of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, Mirabai Chanu won a silver medal in the women’s weightlifting 49kg category.
In doing so, she became only the second person to win a medal for India in weightlifting after Karnam Malleshwari did it in 2000 Sydney Olympics. Malleshwari had won the Bronze medal.
