1 / 10Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra turns 27 today. Considering Chopra’s achievements it is safe to say that he is the greatest Indian track and field athlete. Much before turning 27, Chopra completed javelin as he won every major event and championship that his sport has to offer. Chopra is a double Olympic medalist a World Champion and has won gold medals at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and many other international meets. On the occasion of his birthday, we look back at Chopra’s all major achievements. (Image: AP)
2 / 10At the 2016 South Asian Games held in Guwahati, India, Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal with a throw of 82.23m. He was the first India to win the gold medal at the level. (Image: Reuters)
3 / 10In 2016, Neeraj Chopra created a world record during the World U20 Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland. In the men’s javelin final, Chopra threw his javelin at an astonishing distance of 86.48m. The distance helped Chopra create a new world record at the under-20 level and seal the gold medal for the rising star. Chopra thus became the first Indian athlete to set a world record in athletics. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 10In 2017, at the Asian Championships held in Bhubaneswar, India, Chopra won the gold medal with a huge throw of 85.23m. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 10In 2018, Neeraj Chopra participated in his first Commonwealth Game. In Gold Coast, Australia Chopra Chopra became the Commonwealth Games champion with a throw of 86.47m in the final. Chopra was the first Indian to achieve the feat. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 10A few month after winning the Commonwealth Games gold, at the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta and Palembang, Neeraj Chopra won his first Asian Games gold medal. In the final Chopra produced a top throw of 88.06m and claimed the top spot on the podium. Chopra thus finished the year as the reigning Commonwealth Games and Asian Games champion. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 10In 2021, during the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to qualify for the final of a track and field event as qualified for the final of the men’s javelin in the final. Then in the main event, Chopra hurled his javelin at a distance of 87.58m and won the gold medal. Chopra thus became the first Indian to win the gold medal at the Olympics in Track and Field and only the second Indian athlete after Abhinav Bindra to win an induvial gold medal at the Olympics. At this stage, Chopra held the title of Commonwealth Games champion, Asian Games champion and Olympic champion simultaneously. (Image: Reuters)
8 / 10In 2022, Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian athlete to win the coveted Diamond League trophy. In the 2022 Diamond League final held in Zurich, Chopra produced a best throw of 88.44m to seal the top spot and lift the trophy (Image: World Athletics)
9 / 10At the 2023 World Athletic Championships held in Budapest, Hungary Neeraj Chopra emerged first with a best attempt of 88.17m. With that Chopra became the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal at the World Championships. Chopra thus held the titles of Olympic Champion and World Champion at the same time, a rare achievement in javelin. (Image: Reuters)
10 / 10In 2024, Neeraj Chopra clinched the silver medal at the Paris Olympic Games. Chopra’s best attempt in the men’s javelin throw final measured 89.45m and with that he secured his second Olympic medal. (Image: Reuters)
