Whenever the conversation turns to India’s greatest athletes, Neeraj Chopra’s name will always be at the top. Neeraj, who won India’s first Olympic gold medal in javelin throw, is today an inspiration to millions of young people.
Neeraj Chopra Birthday: When discussing the greatest athletes in Indian Olympic history, Neeraj Chopra’s name invariably comes to the forefront. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Neeraj created history by winning a gold medal in javelin throw for India. He became the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics. Following this, Neeraj Chopra secured a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
He is the only Indian athlete to win both gold and silver medals in individual events. He is also the first Asian player to win an Olympic gold medal in javelin throw. Known as ‘Golden Boy’, Neeraj Chopra celebrates his birthday today and turns 28.
From a Farmer’s Family in Haryana to the Olympic Podium
Neeraj Chopra was born on December 24, 1997, in Panipat district, Haryana, to a humble farming family. As a child, Neeraj was of a very quiet nature, but his biggest struggle was obesity. By the age of 12, his weight had exceeded 80 kilograms. Ghee, churma, and butter made by his grandmother at home were his weakness. Children at school used to make fun of him, which caused Neeraj a lot of distress.
Neeraj’s uncle understood his problem and started taking him to the stadium to run to lose weight. This is where Neeraj’s life took a new turn. At the stadium, he saw players throwing javelins for the first time, and he found the sport incredibly exciting. It is said that Neeraj threw the javelin almost 25 meters on his very first attempt, which surprised the coaches and players.
Neeraj’s uncle had mentioned in an interview that he himself didn’t know when Neeraj became a serious athlete. The family realized that Neeraj had extraordinary talent when a photo of him winning the inter-district competition was published in the local newspaper.
From Junior Level to the Global Stage
Neeraj won a gold medal with a throw of 68.40 meters at the National Junior Athletics Championship held in Lucknow in 2012, setting a national record. Subsequently, at the 2016 Under-20 World Championship, he not only won gold with a throw of 86.48 meters but also set a world record. This is where Neeraj Chopra emerged on the global athletics map.
Although he finished 15th in the 2017 World Championship, he learned from the defeat. He announced his comeback by winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Tokyo Olympics: A Golden Moment in History
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021), Neeraj Chopra was India’s biggest hope. Germany’s star athlete Johannes Vetter was also in the competition, with a personal best of over 97 meters. But in that moment of pressure, Neeraj showed remarkable composure and made a throw of 87.58 meters, winning India its first-ever athletics gold medal in Olympic history. He became the first Indian and first Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in javelin throw.
- 2022: Won the Diamond League Final
- 2023: Became the first Indian to win gold at the World Athletics Championship
- 2024 Paris Olympics: Secured a silver medal
Thus, Neeraj Chopra became the only Indian athlete to win gold and silver medals in individual Olympic events. In 2024, Neeraj crossed the 90-meter mark for the first time in his career. At the Doha Diamond League, he made a throw of 90.23 meters, creating another history.
