India's Golden Arm: Neeraj Chopra makes history, wins gold in javelin throw at Tokyo

Hyderabad: India's golden boy Neeraj Chopra made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after he won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw on Saturday. He threw a best of 87.58 M to clinch the elusive gold and became the first Indian athlete to win gold in track and field.

Neeraj Chopra who also topped the qualifying stage with a humongous throw of 86.65 M was all set to face off against his toughest opponent Johannes Vetter who had thrown a record-breaking 96.29 M at the European Championships in May.

Chopra was off to a flying start with a huge throw of 87.03 M. He was all pumped up after the throw as he waved at his coach and other supporting staff. Meanwhile, Vetter was a long way off with 82.52 M. The Indian then bettered his own throw with a monstrous 87.58 M. He knew it, after the throw, that he had thrown further. Rightly so, he was on the top of the list with a best of 87.58 M.

On the other side, Germany's Vetter was disqualified as he finished 9th. Only eight could qualify to the next round. Almost assured of a medal, the second round saw the Czech Republican, Jakub Vadlejch, overcome his best and throw a second-best of 86.67 M, less than a metre short of Neeraj's 87.58 M.

Neeraj's last throw wasn't as good as his first and second but that didn't matter anymore as he made history, winning only the second individual gold medal for India after Abhinav Bindra's gold in shooting at the Beijing Olympics 2008. He also became the first-ever Indian track and field athlete to win a medal at the Olympics, that too, gold. This also ended India's quest for the elusive gold, courtesy of the 23-year-old from Haryana.

This is India's best ever performance at the Olympics with 7 medals which include a Gold, 2 Silver & 3 bronze. Their previous best was at the London Olympics back in 2012 where they won 6 medals.