(All images credit: @Neeraj_chopra1/X)
Neeraj Chopra is not only a celebrated javelin thrower but also a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army. He has been balancing his athletic career with military duties since 2016.
Starting with throws of 55 meters, Chopra set a national record with 68.40 meters at the 2012 junior nationals. By 2014, he won a silver at the Youth Olympics Qualification in Bangkok.
In 2015, Chopra set a junior world record with an 81.04-meter throw at the All India Inter-University Meet, marking his first throw over 80 meters.
In 2018, Chopra was nominated for India’s highest sports honor, the Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award, making him the only track and field athlete to be recognized that year.
After a severe elbow injury in 2019, Chopra returned to competition in 2020 with a winning throw of 87.86 meters at the ACNW League Meeting, qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.
Chopra clinched gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, making a triumphant return from injury and securing his place in history.
Chopra broke his own national record multiple times: first with 87.43 meters at the 2018 Doha Diamond League, then with 88.06 meters at the Asian Games, and finally with 88.07 meters in 2021.