Khandra village erupts in joy as Neeraj Chopra bags silver at World Championship

Tribune News Service

Mukesh Tandon

Panipat, July 24

Khandra village of the district erupted into celebrations on Sunday morning after Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra created history one more time, becoming only the second Indian and first male track and field athlete to win a medal at the World Athletics Championship 2022 in Oregon, USA, by clinching silver in the javelin throw final.

Long jumper Anju Bobby George was the first Indian to win a medal—bronze—at the World Championships in the 2003 edition in Paris.

The 24-year-old Chopra threw his javelin at a distance of 88.13 meter to clinch the silver medal.

Neeraj had bagged the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on August 7 last year with a throw of 86.65m.

The family members and villagers watched Neeraj’s javelin event on a giant TV screen set up on a street. The family members immediately started distributing laddoos after Neeraj bagged the silver medal around 7.15 am.

There were some anxious moments in the beginning but to the relief of all, Neeraj got his rhythm back and threw the javelin at a distance of 88.13m in his 4th attempt to bag the silver.

Saroj Devi, mother of Neeraj, along with other family members, distributed sweets to women at home and celebrated the win with a dance.

“It is a very happy moment for us as Neeraj has won the silver at the World Championships just after winning the Olympic gold medal ,” said Saroj Devi.  

Neeraj will be visiting home after three months and we will give him a rousing welcome, she said.

Panipat Deputy Commissioner Sushil Kumar Sarwan, who watched the event with Neeraj’s father Satish Chopra, congratulated the family on his success.

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