Neeraj smashes Jr world record

New Delhi, July 24: Rising athletics star Neeraj Chopra scripted history by smashing the junior world record in javelin throw en route to a gold medal with a stunning effort of 86.48m at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

After a solid opening round throw of 79.66m, the 18-year-old Haryana lad sent the spear to a stupendous distance of 86.48m in his second round on the penultimate day of competitions last night, nearly two metres beyond earlier world under-20 record of 84.69m which was in the name of Latvia’s Zigismunds Sirmais.

Chopra, currently studying at DAV College in Chandigarh, in the process became the first ever Indian to hold a world record in athletics (junior and senior). He also broke the existing national senior record of 82.23m in the name of Rajinder Singh.

His effort was also better than the gold medal winner in London Olympics (84.58m).

His achievement was all the more stunning as his effort has put him at the eighth spot in the IAAF’s overall list of season leaders (senior outdoor list) though he could not make it to the Rio Olympics. The entry standard for Rio Olympics men’s javelin was set at 83m and the deadline of July 11 has already passed.

Chopra also became the first Indian track and field athlete to have won a gold in a World Championships.

He entered the World Under-20 Championships as the season leader after his national record equalling effort of 82.23m while winning gold in the South Asian Games in Guwahati in February.

— PTI

Congratulations Neeraj Chopra for the outstanding sporting accomplishment. We are proud of you

THE 18-YEAR-OLD’S 86.48 effort in Javelin Throw at the IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, broke Latvia’s Zigismunds Sirmais’ record of 84.69m.

IT WAS ALSO better than the gold-medal winning effort at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, 84.58 metres