Tokyo Olympics: Everything you need to know about Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra who became the first ever Indian to win a gold medal in athletes has made his remark in the history of Olympics. On August 7, the 23-year-old won a gold medal in the men's javelin throw event within 87.5 8 m throw in his second attempt.

For the first time since 2008, the Indian National Anthem was played at Olympics and the entire credit goes to Neeraj Chopra. Neeraj has done something one has ever managed to do before.

Neeraj was born on 24th December 1997 in Panipat Haryana. The Olympic gold medallist was born to Satish Kumar and Saroj Devi in Kangra village Panipat Haryana.
Brother of two sisters, he has grown up in Haryanvi agricultural family. He is pursuing his bachelor's from Lovely Professional University in Jalandhar Punjab.

It is unknown to many but the javelin thrower was first interested in cricket. He took up sports in 2011 as he got inspired by watching people throw javelin in Haryana. He was an obese child and people used to tease him a lot in his childhood. His father later enrolled him into a local gymnasium. He was then enrolled in a gym where, Jaiveer Chaudhary, a Javelin thrower recognised his talent and became his first coach. 

Neeraj was 13 year old at that time and after getting trained under the coach for a year, he was admitted to Tau Devi lal Sports Complex where is started training under a coach named Naseem Ahmed. 

NEERAJ’S ACCOMPLISHMENT’S

1. Neeraj won his first international medal in 2014 at the Youth Olympics qualification which was held in Bangalore.

2. In 2016 at the South Asian Games, he won a medal with throw off 84.2 3 and set an Indian national record.

3. After he won gold medal in 2016, Indian Army offered Neeraj a post of junior commissioned officer in Rajputana Rifles with the rank of Naib Subedar. 

4. In 2017, Chopra won a gold medal in Asian athletics championship.

5. In Commonwealth games 2018, he registered a season best effort of 86.8 for m and became one of the few Indian athletes to win gold medal Commonwealth game debut

6. He was awarded Arjuna awards in 2018.

Neeraj has donated 2 lacs to PM cares fund for covid pandemic last year in March. He has not only registered his name in the history of books but he will always be remembered is Olympic gold medalist.