Neeraj Chopra the 25-year-old made everyone in the nation proud by winning the gold medal in the javelin throw event at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday. Neeraj defeated Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem with lengths of 88.17m and 87.73m. He became the first Indian to win a gold medal at the prestigious event with his victory.
This outstanding achievement not only won Neeraj the gold medal but also placed him as a global pathfinder for Indian athletics. Neeraj Chopra said that he does not consider himself the greatest of all time because he still has many throws left and much to prove.
Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan is another excellent competitor, finished only behind Neeraj’s accomplishment with a silver medal in hand, Nadeem managed a remarkable throw of 87.82 meters, Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic earned the third position on the podium by showcasing his talent with a best throw of 86.67 meters.
Kishore Jena (84.77m) and DP Manu (84.14m) recorded the fifth and sixth spaces, respectively, Three Indian athletes placed in the top eight of an event at the World Championships for the first time ever.
Neeraj stated, “In addition to my regular exercise, I frequently engage in visualization, which I find extremely enjoyable.” It gives me the impression that I’m already competing and creates a mental image – it’s become a part of my routine. That helped me to win medals in difficult international competitions.