Silver lining: Neeraj Chopra wins silver on tough day, is second Indian to bag World Championships medal

Tribune News Service

Vinayak Padmadeo

New Delhi, July 24

The first part of the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, USA, had entire India worried. The country’s best and only hope for a medal was shaky as Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra was yet to hit his stride.

Head wind

It was difficult to start with. It is tough to throw against the wind, though I will take this as another learning experience.

Comeback

I struggled in the first two or three throws but I always had the confidence that I would make a comeback and register a good throw.

Next time

I am happy that I won a medal today. There is a World Championships in Hungary next year, I will try to do better there.

— Neeraj Chopra

Welcome to the group

Congratulations Neeraj Chopra for that magic moment... And welcome to the group... It was a long wait. Anju Bobby George, winner of bronze at 2003 world championships

A foul throw at the start, coupled with two attempts in which he touched 82.39m and a much-improved 86.37m, had him down in the pecking order for a medal.

Then came another scare — he had to strap his groin area, and with it he had the challenge to throw against the wind. All things were shaping up for a shock ending for him and India. However, just when everything seemed bleak, out came his best throw, followed by a now-customary roar from the champion.

It was a perfect release. The javelin touched 88.13 metres and history was created as Chopra won his first World Championships medal. With it, he became the second Indian, after Anju Bobby George, to stand on the podium at the prestigious event. Anju won a bronze in long jump in 2003.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters secured the gold medal with a best throw of 90.54m, while the Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch bagged the third place with 88.09m. The other Indian in the fray, Rohit Yadav, finished 10th with a best throw of 78.72m.

Difficult start

Chopra conceded that he found it difficult at the start as his warm-up had not been good. “It was difficult to start with. It is tough to throw against the wind, though I will take this as another learning experience,” the reigning Olympics champion told Indian media on Sunday.

“I struggled in the first two or three throws but I always had the confidence that I would make a comeback and register a good throw. I am happy that I won a medal today. There is a World Championships in Hungary next year, I will try to do better there,” he added.

Glory Wall

Chopra’s Sunday feat has made him the only Indian track and field athlete to have medalled at every major tournament. Starting with a gold at the World Junior Championships in 2016, the 24-year-old has now completed a full set of medals the sport offers. He won the South Asian Games title in 2016, following which he did the double of winning gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in 2018.

Then he won the biggest prize in Tokyo with a throw of 87.58m. This year he has bagged a silver in the Diamond League in Stockholm, following it with a silver in Eugene.

The young man from Khandra in Haryana said he’s happy to add another medal to his tally. “It feels good to have medals at all major championships now. Although I had won gold everywhere, this time I have won silver in Oregon now,” he said.

“I will also add the Diamond League podium to the list as it is very prestigious and competitive as well. I am hungry to win and I will give my all, but I am very happy that I have all the medals now,” he added.

‘Peters’ day’

The Armyman complimented his long-time rival Anderson Peters — the two had been edging each other on the podium since their junior days. “Anderson Peters started well today. He had three throws of over 90 metres. It was a difficult condition for me, but that throw (88.13m) felt good, so I am satisfied with the result,” he added.

“It is not easy to throw the javelin over 90 metres consistently. It takes a lot of effort. The body has to work well, but above all, how an athlete performs on the day counts a lot. Today was his day as he could not qualify for the finals in Tokyo,” Chopra said.

The next chapter in this tug of war for the top podium position between the two will be written during the Commonwealth Games. Over to Birmingham now.

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