India’s celebrated shuttler PV Sindhu extended her congratulations to javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra for securing a silver medal in the men’s javelin final at the Paris Olympics 2024. This achievement has earned Neeraj Chopra a place in an exclusive group of Indian athletes who have won medals in more than one Olympic Games.
On August 8, Neeraj Chopra made history by becoming the newest member of the prestigious double Olympic medal club, which previously included only four Indian athletes in the individual category. The club’s previous members are Norman Pritchard, Sushil Kumar, PV Sindhu herself, and Manu Bhaker. Neeraj Chopra’s silver medal win at the Paris Olympics adds him to this elite group, recognizing his exceptional performance over two consecutive Olympic Games.
Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic journey began at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where he won gold in the men’s javelin throw final, making him the first Indian to achieve this feat. Entering the Paris Olympics 2024 as both the reigning world and Olympic champion, Neeraj demonstrated his skill and prowess by leading the qualification round with a throw of 89.34 meters, topping the list of 32 athletes.
Despite high expectations for another gold medal, Neeraj Chopra encountered challenges during the final. His initial throw was a foul, and his subsequent four throws also ended in fouls. Nevertheless, his second throw of 89.4 meters, which was his season’s best, was enough to secure him a podium finish, earning him the silver medal.
PV Sindhu, who has previously won a silver medal at the Rio Olympics 2016 and a bronze at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, expressed her joy at Neeraj Chopra’s achievement on social media platform X. “Welcome Neeraj Chopra !!! This is a special club. No better person to be on here than you,” PV Sindhu wrote, celebrating Neeraj Chopra’s entry into the elite group.
https://x.com/Pvsindhu1/status/1821646022998994999
Additionally, Manu Bhaker, India’s shooting star, also made history at the Paris Olympics by winning two bronze medals in the women’s 10m air pistol and the mixed team event. Manu Bhaker became the first Indian female athlete to win two consecutive Olympic medals. She narrowly missed out on a third medal, finishing fourth in the women’s 25m pistol final.
As India celebrates Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable achievement, his success adds to the nation’s growing legacy in Olympic sports, highlighting the country’s emerging talents and their contributions to international athletics. Neeraj Chopra’s silver medal, along with the achievements of other Indian athletes like PV Sindhu and Manu Bhaker, showcases the exceptional skill and determination of Indian sportspeople on the global stage.
