Kochi: Neeraj Chopra became first Indian to win the World Athletics Championships gold medal in men’s javelin throw in Budapest.
In his second attempt, Chopra sent the javelin to the highest distance of 88.17 meters. Neeraj became the third athlete to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships titles. Jan Zelezny of Czech Republic and Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway are the others.
Neeraj had won silver in the event in 2022, media reports said.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem came second by finishing at 87.82m. Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic came third by throwing to a distance of 86.67m.
India’s Kishore Jena (84.77m) and DP Manu (84.14m) came fifth and sixth respectively.
Chopra had won the Olympic gold in Tokyo 2020. The other Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championship was Anju Bobby George who had won a bronze in 2003 in Paris.
Neeraj wins gold
