Tokyo 2020: Neeraj Chopra dominated the javelin throw final with a best throw of 87.58m to win India's second individual gold in the Olympics on Saturday.
Neeraj Chopra threw the javelin 87.03m in his first throw and bettered it with 87.58m but couldn't go any further. Chopra managed four legitimate throws of 87.03m, 87.58m, 76.79m and 84.24 while his fourth and fifth throws were disqualified.
But his second throw was way better than the rest and enough to secure the gold for India.
Neeraj Chopra's gold medal is only the second for India in individual category after Abhinav Bindra, who bagged the top prize in the 19m Air Rifle shooting event in China
Neeraj dominated the javelin final just like he did in the qualification round when he threw the javelin 86.65m to qualify for the final with his first threw.
A nation of a billion-plus was awaiting a historic medal with bated breath, knowing it is well within the country's reach -- an unprecedented feeling when it comes to track and field events at the Tokyo Games.
Since Norman Pritchard won two silver medals on the track in 1900, no Indian athlete has finished on the podium in track and field at the Olympics. Legendary athletes Milkha Singh and PT Usha came close in 1960 and 1984, respectively only to end up with agonising 4th-place finishes.
Neeraj has allowed expectations to hit the roof. He has done it in the past and the absence of Poland's Marcin Krukowski and the reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott and Rio Olympics silver medalist Julius Yego puts Neeraj among the favourites.
0 Comments