Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the congratulatory messages that Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra received for winning the silver medal in the Javelin Throw final at the World Athletics Championships and described the feat as a special moment for Indian sports.
Chopra scripted history as he became only the second Indian and first male track and field athlete to win a medal in the World Championships by clinching silver in the javelin throw final in Eugene, US.
Chopra won the Gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the first after shooter Abhinav Bindra to win an individual Olympic gold medal for India. The legendary shooter was also quick to join in the adulations.
Other athletes and former stars also shared their pride in India's golden boy.
Former sports and current Law minister Kiren Rijiju, as well as Rajnath Singh, joined PM Modi in wishing congratulations to Neeraj.
The 24-year-old Chopra, who was a medal favourite coming into the showpiece athletics event, produced a best throw of 88.13m to finish second. The legendary long jumper Anju Bobby George was the first Indian to win a medal — bronze — in the World Championships in the 2003 edition in Paris.
