NEERAJ CHOPRA
Neeraj Chopra, born on 24 December 1997 in the village of Khandra, Panipat (Haryana), is India’s most celebrated javelin thrower — an athlete whose name is now synonymous with excellence, perseverance, and historic firsts in Indian sports.
From ‘Motu’ to Medal Magic
As a teenager, Neeraj was noticeably plump and weighed nearly 90 kg. Friends often teased him as “motu” (fatso), until his father encouraged him to join a gym. Soon after, he wandered into the Shivaji Stadium in Panipat, picked up a javelin — and coaches instantly recognised his natural aptitude. With early encouragement from Sports Authority of India coach Jaiveer Singh and later mentorship from coach Naseem Ahmad in Panchkula, Neeraj switched from being overweight to overtaking the best in the world.
Without formal technique training early on, he learned by watching YouTube clips of legendary thrower Jan Železný, instantly improving his own skill.
Early Breakthroughs
Neeraj first burst into the national spotlight in October 2012, winning the junior national title with a throw of 68.40 m. By 2015, he was among the senior elite, earning a spot at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports in Patiala for advanced training, nutrition, and technique refinement.
In 2016 at the World U20 Championships in Poland, Neeraj threw 86.48 m — a world U20 record — and took gold, becoming the first Indian to set an athletics world record and win that title.
He followed this with golds at the South Asian Games (2016), Asian Championships (2017), Commonwealth Games (2018), and Asian Games (2018).
Olympic Glory and Global Breakthrough
On 7 August 2021 at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021 due to COVID-19), Neeraj etched his name into history. With a sensational 87.58 m throw in the final — his second attempt — he won the gold medal in javelin, becoming India’s first Olympic champion in athletics and just the second Indian individual Olympic gold medallist after shooter Abhinav Bindra (2008).
His triumph ignited nationwide pride and dramatically raised interest in track and field across India.
The Global Indian
Beyond the Olympics — Global Medals and Milestones
After Tokyo, Neeraj continued to shine on the world stage:
● 2022 World Athletics Championships — Silver medal in javelin, India’s second medal ever at the World Championships.
● 2023 World Athletics Championships — Gold medal with an 88.17 m throw, making Neeraj the first Asian javelin thrower to become world champion.
The Global Indian
● 2024 Paris Olympics — Silver medal with a personal best Olympic throw of 89.45 m, making him one of the few Indians with multiple Olympic medals and the first Indian track and field athlete to do so.
● 2025 Diamond League — Achieved a historic personal best of 90.23 m, breaking the 90-metre barrier — a landmark for Indian athletics.
● Neeraj Chopra Classic (2025) — Won the inaugural edition in Bengaluru, India’s first international field event hosted domestically.
● Despite battling a back injury later in 2025, which saw him finish eighth at the World Championships in Tokyo, Neeraj remains a dominant and inspirational figure in javelin throw.
Army, Awards, and Honour
Neeraj is not just a sportsperson but also a soldier — inducted into the Indian Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) with the Rajputana Rifles in 2016. He was promoted to Subedar Major and, in 2025, was conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army in recognition of his contributions to Indian sport.
His many awards include:
● Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (India’s highest sporting honour) (2021)
● Padma Shri (2022)
● Arjuna Award (2018)
● Vishisht Seva Medal (2020) and Param Vishisht Seva Medal (2022)
Legacy and Influence
From a chubby village boy nicknamed “motu” to an Olympic and World champion, Neeraj’s journey transcends sport. He has inspired a generation of young Indians to pursue athletics, changing how javelin and track and field are viewed in a cricket-dominant nation.
The Global Indian
As of today, Neeraj remains among the most followed athletes on social media and a symbol of relentless hard work, national pride, and sporting excellence.
