PANAJI: Everybody in our country hoped and prayed Neeraj Chopra to be the man to bring India the elusive medal in athletics at the Olympics, where legends like late Milkha Singh and PT Usha had fallen agonisingly short.
The day – August 7, 2021– will forever be etched in India’s history as the powerfully built Chopra delivered the top-most prize in a never-seen-before dominant style for an Indian at a world athletics stage; with the Indian Army sportsman and Haryana-born youngster hurling the javelin throw beyond the reach of the world’s best.
“Milkha Singh ji, aapki last wish poori ho gayi hai!!! 😃 – “ tweeted @FitIndiaOff
Following his opening attempt of 87.03m, the 23-year-old Chopra threw the javelin at a distance of 87.58m to clinch gold medal at Tokyo 2020 on Saturday as Team India ensured the best-ever finish for the country with one gold, two silver and four bronze medals.
The legendary Milkha Singh finished fourth in 400m at Rome 1960, and always hoped for someone to better his performance before he passed away earlier in the summer. PT Usha missed out on a bronze medal in 400m hurdles at Los Angeles 1984 by 1/100th of a second, and India was desperate to get that medal ever since.
On the day, Neeraj Chopra provided the defining moment for Indian athletics, Usha was thrilled. “It is a great achievement. We’ve all waited so long for an Olympic medal in athletics. It is the toughest thing to win a medal in atheltics at the Olympics. Neeraj has done something incredible,” she told Olympics.com. “India’s longest wait at the Olympics has been realised,” added the The ‘Payyoli Express’.
Prime Minister, Narendra Modi congratulated Chopra for turning the nation’s dream into a reality.
