Chopra, now studying at DAV College in Chandigarh, in the process became the first ever Indian to hold a world record in athletics (junior and senior).
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Neeraj, a native of Panipat in Haryana, began the event strongly, logging a throw of 79.66 meters in his first attempt which put him in lead, albeit provisionally.
Chopra’s mark is also a new national record.
Chopra now ranks eighth amongst all throwers this year, moving ahead of Olympic gold medalist Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, whose best this year has been a throw of 86.35m.
“My ultimate target was to qualify for the Olympics but I didn’t make it. My other goal was to win at the World U-20 Championships”, he was quoted as saying by the official website of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Neeraj Chopra, Javelin Thrower Win a Gold Medal in IAAF World U-20 Athletics:- The India has never been short of talent and from time to time many, many individual have proved this myth. And recently a man who has made our country and the peoples of India proud is Neeraj Chopra.
South African Johan Gobler (80.59m) took the silver and Anderson Peters (79.65m) of Granada finished third.
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Chopra had won the South Asian Games gold in Guwahati earlier this year with a personal best of 82.23m and has often been hailed as a javelin sensation in India. “I was feeling strong and confident before the event and after the first throw I was sure I could go farther”, he said.
