Tokyo: Neeraj Chopra created history on Saturday as he became only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to clinch Olympic individual gold in Tokyo. With heavyweights Estonian Magnus Kirt and defending champion Thomas Rohler already out, Neeraj was in serious medal contention right before the Tokyo Olympics started.
On Saturday, Neeraj looked under no pressure and got 87.03m on his first attempt. Meanwhile, World No.1, reigning world champion and the biggest rival to Neeraj, German Johannes Vetter, managed 82.52m in his first.
The 23-year-old was confirmed of a medal when the Indian sent his spear to 87.58m to stay at the top of the table till the last throw. However, with Vetter’s next two throws counted as invalid, it was an open field for Neeraj at the Olympic Stadium.
U-20 World Champion —> Olympic Champion 💪😎
The boy has done it for India. He's won an Olympic gold in #Athletics 😍#Tokyo2020 | #UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics @Neeraj_chopra1 pic.twitter.com/v4bowLi1a5
— Olympic Khel (@OlympicKhel) August 7, 2021
Vetter, who had more than six 90m-plus throws this year, was touted as the favourite to win the gold but it looked like the German crippled under pressure as he made his way out of the competition after his first three throws.
Another German Julian Weber finished fourth with his season’s best of 85.30m. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem finished fifth with 84.62m. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic duo of Jakub Vadlejch and Vitezslav Vesley finished second and third with 85.44m and 85.30m respectively.
