New Delhi [India], December 29 (ANI): India’s ace javelin thrower, two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion Neeraj Chopra’s gorgeous 26-event run of ending within the prime two on the rostrum got here to an finish on a heartbreaking observe with an Eighth-place end throughout his world title defence on the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this 12 months.
Chopra’s unimaginable streak got here to an finish on the Tokyo World Athletics Championships in September, the place he completed Eighth with a greatest throw of 84.03m. This marked the primary time in 26 occasions that Chopra did not safe a top-two end.
This defeat within the World Athletics Championships additionally marked the top of Neeraj Chopra’s spectacular 33-event podium streak, which started on the 2018 All-India Inter-Services Championships.
Aside from this uncommon setback, the Indian famous person has loved a profitable 2025 season. He took the highest honours within the inaugural version of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a contest named after him at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru in July.
Neeraj kickstarted the season with a win on the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in April and adopted it up with a really particular second-place end at Doha Diamond League in May, the place he crossed the 90-metre mark for the primary time, with a throw of 90.23 m.
The ‘Golden Boy’ lastly silenced the four-year-long chatter concerning the 90-meter mark. On May 16, Chopra threw an enormous 90.23m.
Although he completed second within the meet, he set a brand new Indian nationwide document and have become solely the twenty fifth man in historical past to breach the hallowed 90m barrier.
He additionally went on to safe a second spot within the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland later that month. He resumed his profitable methods with back-to-back titles at Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike, with greatest efforts of 88.16 m and 85.29 m.
In late August, Chopra’s streak of prime two finishes at occasions continued as he secured the second spot with the very best throw of 85.01 m through the Diamond League last in Zurich.
Born on 24 December 1997 in Khandra village, Panipat district, Haryana, he has introduced immense pleasure to the Nation and the Armed Forces by means of his outstanding worldwide athletic achievements.
The star javelin thrower made historical past as the primary Indian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in monitor and subject on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
In October, the Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh formally conferred the Honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel within the Territorial Army upon Chopra through the pipping ceremony at South Block, New Delhi.
Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi and different senior officers of the Indian Army and Territorial Army have been current on the event. (ANI)