Tokyo Olympics: Neeraj scripts history, India ends its campaign with gold

Neeraj Chopra's first throw of 87.58 was enough for him to earn a gold medal in the javelin throw final

Neeraj Chopra scripted history after winning a gold medal in Javelin throw. His first throw of 87.58 was enough for him to earn a gold medal in javelin throw final. Chopra became the first ever Indian athlete to win an Olympic title in athletics.

Neeraj Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, out-performing the field by some distance to immortalise himself as the first track-and-field Games medal-winner for the country.

The 23-year-old son of a farmer from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana produced a second round throw of 87.58m in the finals to stun the athletics world and end India's 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Olympics.

His was the country's seventh medal and first gold in this Olympics and he joined shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008 Beijing Games) in an elite and very hard-to-reach club of India's individual gold winners in the showpiece.

With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games. Apart from Chopra's gold, India have won to silver and four bronze medals.

On the wrestling mat, Punia pulled off a bronze medal on Olympic debut after outwitting Daulet Niyazbekov in the men's freestyle 65kg play-off.

The medal-winning performance saved the 27-year-old and the Indian wrestling contingent from embarrassment since the wrestlers had entered Tokyo with high expectations.

"I am not happy. This is not the result I had set out to achieve. Winning an Olympic medal is no mean achievement but I can't jump with joy with bronze," Bajrang told PTI.

The country also raised a toast to golfer Aditi Ashok, who came agonisingly close to a podium finish before ending fourth.

She pulled off the best performance by an Indian golfer in the Olympics but Aditi could not clinch the eagerly-anticipated medal despite spending a majority of the four rounds in contention for a podium finish.

The 23-year-old Bengalurean ended two strokes off the pace with a total of 15-under 269, which was just one stroke below the medal bracket. In the final round, she managed a 3-under 68.

It was a heartbreaking end to Aditi's campaign considering she started the day in sole second position.

But it was nonetheless a massive improvement as she had finished tied 41st in the 2016 edition where golf made a comeback to the Olympics after over 100 years.

Here is India's schedule and results at Tokyo Olympics’ Day 15 (August 7)

Golf

Women’s Individual Round 4 — Diksha Dagar, starts at 4:17 AM 

Result -Diksha Dagar finishes tied-50th.

Women’s Individual Round 4 — Aditi Ashok, starts at 4:48 AM

Result- Aditi Ashok finishes fourth 

Result: Finishes fourth

Wrestling

Men’s 65kg Freestyle Bronze Medal Match — Bajrang Punia, at 3:55 PM

Result- Bajrang Punia wins bronze

Athletics

Men’s Javelin Throw final — Neeraj Chopra, starts at 04:30 PM

Result - Neeraj Chopra wins Gold medal.

Tokyo Olympics 2020 live telecast India and streaming details

The live broadcast of India’s Olympics matches will take place on Sony Sports Network. Sony TEN 1 HD/SD, Sony TEN 2 HD/SD and Sony SIX HD/SD with English commentary. Sony TEN 3 HD/SD to live telecast Tokyo Olympics 2021 with Hindi Commentary. DD Sports will live broadcast India matches on its Direct-to-home DTH service.

 

9:04 PM

Neeraj dedicates Olympic gold to late Milkha Singh; Family says we are grateful

Newly-crowned Olympic gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra on Saturday dedicated his historic achievement to sprint legend Milkha Singh, who died of COVID-19 in June, a gesture that left his son and ace golfer Jeev Milkha Singh overwhelmed with "eternal" gratitude.

 

"Milkha Singh wanted to hear the national anthem in a stadium. He is no longer with us but his dream has been fulfilled," the 23-year-old javelin thrower said dedicating the achievement to the iconic sprinter, who had finished fourth in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

 

Milkha, 91, breathed his last in Chandigarh in June after battling COVID-19 for a month.

 

Chopra produced a second round throw of 87.58m in the finals at the Tokyo Games to claim the country's first track-and-field medal and become only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics.

 

"Dad waited so many years for this to happen. His dream has finally come true with India's first athletic gold. I am crying as I tweet this. And I am sure dad is crying up above. Thank you for making this happen," Jeev posted.

 

"Not only did you win us a first-ever athletics gold medal in the #OlympicGames, you even dedicated it to my father. The Milkha family is eternally grateful for this honour," he added.

 

The iconic sprinter, who was fondly known as the 'Flying Sikh', had often talked about his deep desire to see an Indian win a track and field Olympic medal.

 

At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, PT Usha came close to winning a medal in women's 400m hurdles but, like Milkha, finished fourth.

9:04 PM

Chopra to get Rs 6 crore cash reward, to be made head of Centre for Excellence in Athletics: Khattar

Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who claimed India's first-ever track-and-field Olympic medal with a gold-medal winning feat at Tokyo Games, will get a cash reward of Rs 6 crore, Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar said on Saturday.

Khattar also announced that Chopra will be made head of upcoming Centre for Excellence in Athletics in Panchkula.

"As per our sports policy, Neeraj Chopra will get a cash reward of Rs six crore, a Class-I job and a piece of plot of land at concessional rates, said Khattar.

On Saturday, Chopra, who hails from Khandra village in Panipat district, won the country's seventh medal and first gold in this Olympics, barely an hour after wrestler Bajrang Punia from Sonipat had won a bronze medal.

Earlier, wrestler Ravi Dahiya had also made the country and Haryana proud by winning an Olympic silver medal.

Congratulating Chopra and other medal winners, Khattar said: "Today is a golden day in the chapter of our sports history

"It is a big achievement for the country our athletes have made us proud. People of Haryana and the country are happy today at the feat of our sportspersons," Khattar said.

The Chief Minister said that a grand felicitation function will be held in Panchkula On August 13, in which the players from the state who took part in Tokyo Olympics will be honoured.

9:04 PM

Anand Mahindra promises XUV 700 model to golden boy Neeraj

It is going to rain gifts for Tokyo Olympics gold medallist javelin throw Neeraj Chopra.

The first one from the Indian corporate world to make an announcement in this regard was Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra.

In reply to a tweet, Mahindra said: "Yes indeed. It will be my personal privilege & honour to gift our Golden Athlete an XUV 7OO @rajesh664 @vijaynakra. Keep one ready for him please."

The XUV 700 is yet to launched by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.

In reply to another tweet that said: "Why one for him, would say the first one for him," Mahindra said: "We hear you."

Mahindra also tweeted: "The Javelin throw is arguably the most frequently used image for commemorative coins. We need to have one officially released depicting #NeerajChopra. @narendramodi @ianuragthakur."

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday announced a cash reward of Rs 6 crore and a government job for Chopra.

The star athlete from Panipat district in Haryana created history after he clinched the gold in javelin throw with an attempt of 87.58 metres, becoming only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics.

8:47 PM

Tokyo Olympics: BCCI announces cash reward for medal winners; Neeraj Chopra to get Rs 1 cr

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah on Saturday announced a Rs 1 crore cash reward for star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra after his historic gold medal-winning feat in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

Jay Shah also announced that Indian athletes Mirabai Chanu and Ravi Dahiya who have won silver medals in the Games will get Rs 50 lakh each from BCCI.

The governing body of cricket will give Rs 25 lakh each to bronze medal winners -- shuttler PV Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain and wrestler Bajrang Punia.

Also, the Indian men's hockey team will get Rs 1.25 crore for their sensational show which saw them claiming a medal after 41 years in the sport.

"INR 1 Cr. - First place medal medallist@Neeraj_chopra1 50 lakh each - Second place medal medallists @mirabai_chanu & Ravi Kumar Dahiya 25 lakh each - Third place medal medallists @Pvsindhu1, @LovlinaBorgohai.@BajrangPunia INR 1.25 Cr. -@TheHockeyIndia men's team @SGanguly99, @ThakurArunS @ShuklaRajiv," Jay Shah tweeted.

Jay Shah said the athletes have made India proud by finishing on the podium in the Tokyo Olympics

"Our athletes have made the country proud by finishing on the podium at @Tokyo2020. The @BCCI acknowledges their stellar efforts and we are delighted to announce cash prizes for the medallists," he added.

8:45 PM

Here is India's schedule and results at Tokyo Olympics’ Day 15 (August 7)

 

Golf

Women’s Individual Round 4 — Diksha Dagar, starts at 4:17 AM 

Result -Diksha Dagar finishes tied-50th.

Women’s Individual Round 4 — Aditi Ashok, starts at 4:48 AM

Result- Aditi Ashok finishes fourth 

Result: Finishes fourth

Wrestling

Men’s 65kg Freestyle Bronze Medal Match — Bajrang Punia, at 3:55 PM

Result- Bajrang Punia wins bronze

Athletics

Men’s Javelin Throw final — Neeraj Chopra, starts at 04:30 PM

Result - Neeraj Chopra wins Gold medal.

8:09 PM

In land of rising sun, India basks in Neeraj Chopra's golden glow; records best ever Olympics

They called it the Olympics like no other and India would agree as debutant javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra shattered several glass ceilings to become the country's first gold-medallist in 13 years, his stupendous show making it the best ever Games for a nation starved for success at the grandest sporting spectacle.

 

With the addition of Chopra's gold on the last day of their competitive schedule, India signed off with seven medals in all, including two silver and four bronze, the last of which was delivered by superstar wrestler Bajrang Punia on the day.

 

In shoring up India's performance, Chopra achieved several firsts.

 

He became the youngest Indian to win an Olympic gold, the first in track-and-field to do so and the only one to do it in his debut Games.

 

At 23, he joined Abhinav Bindra in the select gold club but beat him on age as the latter was 25 when he claimed the top prize in the 20008 Beijing Games.

 

With this, the country surpassed the previous best haul of six medals achieved in the 2012 London Games where there was no gold.

 

It was also the first time that India picked up medals across so many varied disciplines. There were weightlifting and wrestling silver medals through Mirabai Chanu and Ravi Dahiya respectively.

 

And the four bronze medals came from badminton star P V Sindhu, boxer Lovlina Borgohain, Punia and the men's hockey team, which finished on the podium for the first time in 41 years.

 

Chopra saved the best moment for the last.

8:08 PM

Neeraj's village erupts into celebrations, chants 'Chak De India'

The non-descript Khandra village in Haryana's Panipat district erupted into celebrations when the news flashed that its talented son, Subedar Neeraj Chopra, VSM, had become the first Indian track and field athlete to win a medal (that too a gold) at the Olympics since the time India officially gained entry into the Games in 1928.

Friends and fans started gathering around the golden boy's family home, where 19 members if his extended family live, as soon as news spread that he had secured his place in the final of the javelin thrown event in Tokyo.

His family said the entire village and even people from neighbouring villages had been watching his performance for the past few days on television sets installed at public places.

As the news of his victory was televised, people gathered at his residence, distributed sweets and danced to the tunes of Punjabi songs. 'Chak de India' slogans rent the village air when the 'golden news' was flashed on television.

His emotional father Satish Kumar, a farmer, said, "I feel elated that my son brought glory to the country." He then added, brimming over with fatherly pride: "Yes, we were confident from day one that he will bring a gold medal for the country."

Chopra's elated mother, Saroj Devi, said the entire village would extend a grand welcome to her son on his return to his native village.

8:08 PM

PT Usha thanks Neeraj Chopra for fulfilling her 'unfinished dream'

One of India most celebrated sprinters PT Usha, who has been carefully nurturing talent at the Usha School of Athletics in Balussery (Kerala) in the hope of producing an Olympic champion, congratulated Neeraj Chopra after he won India's maiden Olympic track and field gold in javelin throw at Tokyo2020 on Saturday.

Usha, fondly called the 'Payyoli Express', had made the world realise India's potential in athletics when she missed the bronze medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in 400 metre hurdles by 1/100th of a second, making it the closest-ever miss for an Indian athlete in any competition.

But the runner, now 57, who won four Asian Games gold medals - 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles and 4X400m relay - at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, besides winning the 100m and 200m silver at the 1982 Asian Games in New Delhi, couldn't hold herself back when she saw Chopra's monstrous throw of 87.58 metres earn India a historic gold medal.

Usha posted a picture of herself with Chopra and tweeted, "Realised my unfinished dream today after 37 years. Thank you my son @Neeraj_chopra1. (Flag of India, First place medal symbol) #Tokyo2020."

6:52 PM

Haryana announces Rs 6 cr for Neeraj; Punjab CM hails golden boy

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday announced a cash reward of Rs 6 crore and a government job for Neeraj Chopra for winning India's first Olympic gold medal in athletics.

The star athlete from Panipat district in Haryana created histiry after he clinched the gold in javelin throw with an attempt of 87.58 metres, becoming only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics.

Congratulating Chopra for his triumph, Khattar said he not only won the medal, but also won the heart of the whole country.

"The country was waiting for this moment for a long time and the whole country is proud of him," he said.

6:47 PM

I didn't know it would be gold, unbelievable feeling: Neeraj Chopra

"It feels unbelievable," said star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra after his history-making gold in the Olympics on Saturday, claiming to have been unsure of a top podium finish despite a remarkably confident performance.

Chopra had topped the qualification three days ago and did better than that in the finals as he produced a best throw of 87.58m to become only the second Indian to win individual gold in Olympics, also the first track-and-field medal for the country.

"It feels unbelievable. It is the first time India has won a gold in athletics, so I feel very good. We have just one gold here in other sports," the 23-year-old said after winning the historic gold.

"This is our first Olympic medal for a very long time, and in athletics it is the first time we have gold, so it's a proud moment for me and my country."

Asked if he was surprised to win gold which also featured German great Johannes Vetter, he said, "In the qualification round I threw very well so I knew I could do better in the final."

"(But) I didn't know it would be gold but I am very happy."

6:30 PM

Country's dream has been fulfilled : Neeraj's father

6:24 PM

HISTORY. MADE

6:15 PM

On the podium!

6:11 PM

It's time for India's national anthem!

6:06 PM

125 years of wait ends!