WATCH: HISTORIC! Neeraj Chopra sets U-20 Javelin record, becomes first Indian world champion in athletics

The 18-year-old set a new U-20 world record with a javelin throw of 86.48m.

New Delhi: A new star was born on Saturday after Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal at the U-20 World Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

In doing so, Chopra became the first Indian athlete to become a world champion at any level.

The 18-year-old also set a new U-20 world record with a javelin throw of 86.48m, breaking Zigismunds Sirmai's mark of 84.69 metres.

The youngster from Haryana’s Panipat district also became the first Indian athlete to set a world record at any level.

"When the spear left my hand on that second throw, I had a feeling that this was a special throw. I don’t think I expected it to go over 86 meters but since the last couple of months, I have worked hard on my fitness, my technique and it all paid off today,'' Chopra was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.