Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra made history once more as he won silver in the javelin throw final, making him just the second Indian and first male track and field athlete to do so. Chopra, who entered the competition as a strong medal favourite, finished second with a best throw of 88.13 metres.
Anju Booby George, a renowned long jumper, became the first Indian to take home a medal at the 2003 World Championships in Paris, taking home a bronze.
Podium Winners besides Neeraj Chopra at Oregon
Anderson Peters of Grenada won the gold with a best throw of 90.54 metres. Peters’ first throw was 90.21 metres, and his second effort was 90.46 metres farther. In his sixth attempt, he then recorded his best throw, effectively defending his world championship.
Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic took third place with a best throw of 88.09 metres, and Julian Weber of Germany came in fourth with a throw of 86.86 metres.
In a race where even Neeraj Chopra battled with the headwind, the Grenadian Anderson Peters stunned the world with three javelin attempts over 90 metres to win gold. Back then, he was a cricket-crazy youngster.
Neeraj Chopra attempts at World Athletics Championship
Chopra commenced with a foul throw and, on his second effort, recorded 82.39 metres. With his third try, when he threw the javelin 86.37 metres, he continued to improve. He was still not expected to win a medal, but on his fourth attempt, he moved up to second place from fourth by throwing 88.13 metres.
His tries five and six both resulted in foul throws.
Chopra, who placed first in Group A and advanced to the final in second place behind Peters, did so by tossing his spear 88.39 metres, which was his third-highest throw in his professional life. Peters had won Group B with a distance of 89.91 metres.
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Team India at Oregon
Rohit Yadav, the only Indian competing, placed 10th overall with a best finish of 78.72 metres. With a best throw of 80.42 metres, Rohit placed 11th overall in the qualification round.
The 21-year-old Indian won silver at the National Inter-State Championships last month after setting a season’s and personal record of 82.54m.
Chopra had claimed the first athletics gold for India at the Tokyo Olympics the previous year. Only shooter Abhinav Bindra, who captured the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games, is only Indian who has ever won a solo gold medal at the Olympics.
