NEERAJ CHOPRA NOT FIRST INDIAN JAVELIN THROWER TO WIN GOLD
Even before Neeraj Chopra (23) from Haryana won a gold medal in javelin throw at Tokyo Olympics, there was “another Indian”, who had much earlier clinched not one, but two gold medals in the same sport. Meet incredible Devendra Jhajharia—single-arm Paralympian from Rajasthan, who has won two gold medals in javelin throw. He holds a world record in javelin throw, amassing an impressive distance of 62.15m. Chopra picked up gold with his best attempt of 87.58m. But one must remember that Chopra is a young army subedar, while Jhajharia is much older and a handicap. Now, Jhajharia is determined to win the third Paralympic gold as he set a new world record (65.71m) while qualifying for the Tokyo Summer Paralympics 2020 which will be from 25 August to 6 September 2021. India will be participating in nine sports with 43 athletes. Jhajharia’s story is no less amazing than Chopra’s. “It is unfortunate that we don’t give much attention to our Paralympian stars who also script a world records history,” Ashok Kinker, Managing Editor of a sports magazine ‘Khel-today’ told The Sunday Guardian. “As a nation,” Kinker felt, “we forget all our heroes fast, whether they are from war or sports…it would have been nice if some would have remembered Jhajharia also on the day Neeraj secured gold at Tokyo.” Jhajharia is the first para-athlete to receive the Padma Shri. In 2004, he got the prestigious Arjuna Award. Jhajharia’s name emerged in 2004 at Athens, when he won his first gold medal. He repeated this incredible feat at Rio in 2016—all with a single arm. Born in 1981 in Rajasthan’s Churu district, Jhajharia, at the age of eight, while climbing a tree, touched a live high voltage electric cable. His left hand was amputated. Soon, he discovered the wonderful world of javelin at his school grounds. He realized that this sport could be played with a single arm. In 1997, Jhajharia was spotted by Dronacharya Awardee coach R.D. Singh, and he began coaching him.