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'Javelin Throwing Day' to be observed on August 7



 

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has decided to name August 7 as 'Javelin Throwing Day' in India to honor Neeraj Chopra's first historic Olympic gold. 

The day Neeraj Chopra scripted history by winning Olympicgold medal at Tokyo Olympics, August 7, will be celebrated as National Javelin Day by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

The 23-year-old Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold in Tokyo on Saturday, August 7, when he clinched the yellow metal in javelin throw with a best effort of 87.58m.

Neeraj won the gold medal in men's javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 on 7 August 2021. 

He is India's second individual Olympic gold medalist after Abhinav Bindra.

This is India's first gold medal in athletics.

“If the children are getting the Javelins and other facilities, I am sure they will come and take up the sport. I will be happy to cheer for them and they can be medal winners in the future, he told reporters at the media interaction that followed the wonderful felicitation ceremony at the well-appointed Taj Palace banquet hall.

He said the turning point in his career was his inclusion in the National Camp after he finished fifth in the National Games in Kerala in 2015. “Everything changed after my joining the National Camp – equipment, training facilities and diet. The feeling of training with the best javelin throwers in the country was special,” he said.

“I had already won the gold in Commonwealth Games and Asian Games and now the Olympic Games. So, my next target is the gold in the World Athletics Championships (in Oregon) next year. The World Championships is a big competition and sometimes tougher than the Olympic Games.

“I am not going to be content with this Olympic gold. I will want to win the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games titles again,” he said, pointing out that he was concerned about a few athletes testing positive for Covid-19 in the Games Village and that he was worried for himself.