Olympic champion Neeraj ChoprA- javelin silver at the World -The Hindu-11/08/2022

Context:

 

On Saturday, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra made history by winning the javelin silver at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Still, midway through the final, he was in the fourth spot with 86.37m after opening the series with a foul.

 

In Detail:

 

(Note: Dear students cover this topic in Personality in the news. From prelim, sometimes questions may be asked related to the game played so due to the dynamic nature of the question being asked by UPSC we have to be ready for it. So let us start….)

 

Prelim :

 

Who is Neeraj Chopra?

 

Neeraj Chopra (born 24 December 1997) is an Indian track and field athlete who is the reigning Olympic champion and world championship silver medalist in the javelin throw. He is the first Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in the men's javelin throw. A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) in the Indian Army, Chopra is the first track and field athlete to win a gold medal for India at the Olympics. He is also the first track and field athlete from India to win at the IAAF World U20 Championships, where in 2016 he achieved a world under-20 record throw of 86.48 m, becoming the first Indian athlete to set a world record.

 

Achievements

- Javelin silver at the World Athletics Championships 2022

-  Olympic gold medal in the men's javelin throw  (88.07m – 2021)

- Gold Medal, Asian Games 2018

- Gold Medal, Commonwealth Games 2018

- Gold Medal, Asian Athletics Championships 2017

- Gold Medal, World U-20 Athletics Championships 2016

- Gold Medal, South Asian Games 2016

- Silver Medal, Asian Junior Championships 2016

- Current World Junior Record Holder (86.48m – 2016)

Know more about javelin throw. 

 

 The javelin, a spear about 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in length, is thrown. It included two events, one for distance and the other for accuracy in hitting a target. The athlete gains momentum by running within the predetermined area.

 

The javelin that is used in modern international men’s competitions is a spear of wood or metal with a sharp metal point. It is constructed in accordance with a detailed set of specifications published by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). Its overall length must be at least 260 cm (102.4 inches) and its weight at least 800 grams (1.8 pounds). The women’s javelin is somewhat shorter and lighter—a minimum of 220 cm (86.6 inches) long and 600 grams (1.3 pounds) in weight.

 

Rules :

 

After a short run, the javelin is thrown directly forward with an over-the-shoulder motion into a 29° sector marked on the field. It must land point first. The thrower’s body may not rotate a full turn (360°) before the javelin is released, and he may not step on or beyond a line at the end of the runway.

 

India's achievement in Javelin Throw :

 

In Tokyo Olympic 2020, Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal in the final on 7 August 2021 with a throw of 87.58 m in his second attempt, becoming the first Indian Olympian to win a gold medal in athletics, and the first post-independence Indian Olympic medalist in athletics.

 

Conclusion :

Neeraj Chopra brought 1.4 billion people to India together with his historic gold medal at Tokyo 2020. It was the first time in 121 years that an Indian athlete stood on a track and field podium at the Olympics, becoming the first Indian Olympian to win a gold medal in athletics, and the first post-independence Indian Olympic medalist in athletics.