• Source:JND
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Neeraj Chopra delivered a perfect good night wish to his fellow Indians in the early hours of Monday by winning the historic World Athletics Championships 2023 gold in Budapest. He became the first Indian to clinch the top honours in the coveted athletics competition.

With a throw of 88.17m in the men's javelin final, Neeraj bettered his last year's performance where he bagged the silver medal to become the second Indian after Anju Bobby George (bronze in 2003) to win a medal in the championships. Neeraj's nearest competitor Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan won the silver medal with a throw of 87.82m while Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch finished third with a throw of 86.67m.

With the latest World Athletics Championships gold, Neeraj has completed his medal cabinet with every elusive title in the men's javelin event. Check the complete list of Neeraj's medals and achievements so far:

Gold and Silver in the World Athletics Championships

Neeraj is the only Indian athlete to have both a gold and a silver medal in World Athletics Championships. He bagged the silver in Oregon, United States in 2022 with a throw of 88.13m to finish second after Anderson Peters of Grenada (90.54m). He doubled his medal tally in Budapest, Hungary on Monday with a world champion throw of 88.17m in the second attempt.


Tokyo Olympics Gold

In 2021, Neeraj gave India what the country was desperately waiting for - an Olympic gold. He became the only second athlete after shooter Abhinav Bindra to clinch a second individual gold medal for the country in the Olympics. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (delayed to 2021 due to COVID-19), he produced a sensational throw of 87.58m to script history for the country.

2018 Commonwealth Games Gold

Before the Olympics gold, Neeraj announced his arrival on the world stage with a gold medal in Gold Coast, Australia. He became the fourth Indian athlete after Milkha Singh (1958), Krishna Poonia (2010) and Vikas Gowda (2014) to clinch gold in individual track and field event.

2018 Asian Games Gold

Neeraj also scripted history in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia as he became the first Indian athlete to win gold javelin throw event. He broke his own national record to finish at the top spot in the competition.


Double Diamond League Titles

Earlier this year, Neeraj bagged his second Diamond League title with a throw of 87.66m in Lausanne. In 2022, he became the first Indian athlete to win the Diamond League with a throw of 88.44m.

Apart from senior titles, Neeraj also won the Junior World Championships in 2016, the Asian Championships in 2017, and the South Asian Games (2016).

Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award

After the Olympics gold, Neeraj was conferred with the country's highest sporting honour of India - Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2021.


Pada Shri And Arjuna Award

In 2022, Neeraj received the Padma Shri -- fourth highest civilian honour in India after his upward rise in the field of javelin. In 2018, he was awarded the Arjuna Award.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal

Neeraj, who also holds Subedar rank in the Indian Army, was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (a military award of India) in 2022 and the Vishisht Seva Medal (a decoration of the Indian Armed Forces) in 2020.