Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra was born on December 24, 1997, in Khandra, Panipat district, Haryana, India. He began his journey in athletics as a teenager, initially taking up javelin throwing to address childhood obesity. In 2010, at the age of 13, he started formal training, first at the Sports Authority of India center in Panipat, and later at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula. His dedication quickly became evident, and by 2012, he had already set a junior national record. This early success marked the beginning of a distinguished career that would soon elevate him to national and then international prominence. His commitment to training, honed through various coaches and rigorous regimens, laid the foundation for his future world-class achievements.

Chopra made his international debut in 2013 and quickly rose through the ranks. A significant turning point came in 2016 when he won gold at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, setting a world junior record of 86.48m. This achievement was a major milestone, making him the first Indian athlete to hold a world record in athletics. His career progression continued with gold medals at the 2016 South Asian Games and the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships. In 2018, he became the first Indian to win a javelin throw gold at the Commonwealth Games and followed this with another gold at the Asian Games, setting a new Indian record of 88.06m. These victories cemented his status as a leading figure in Indian athletics and a formidable competitor on the global stage.

His most celebrated achievement came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he secured India’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in athletics with a throw of 87.58m. This historic win made him only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold. Chopra continued his success by winning a silver medal at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and a gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships, making him the first Asian to achieve this feat in javelin throw. In 2022, he also became the first Indian to win the Diamond League title. By 2024, he reinforced his position with a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, becoming one of only five individual multiple medalists for India. In 2025, he broke the 90m barrier with a throw of 90.23m, further solidifying his legacy as an elite javelin thrower.