Neeraj Chopra captured the imagination of sports fans everywhere with his stunning victory in men's javelin throw at the Tokyo Olympics that gave India its first-ever gold medal in athletics in the Summer Games. The golden boy of Indian sports captured that elusive title with a throw of 87.58 meters at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, setting a frenzy back home and landing him riches beyond his wildest dreams.
Indian companies and governments revel in Chopra's unlikely triumph, promising the 23-year-old cash and gifts worth more than $2 million after his gold medal win. Chopra's victory helped seal a highly successful campaign for India at the Tokyo Olympics that saw them win a total of seven medals, a vast improvement from the two medals they won in Rio five years ago.
Chopra ends India's gold medal drought with a monster throw of the javelin
Nothing excites a nation more than an Olympic gold medal, and Chopra finally delivered it on Day 15 of the Tokyo Olympics. Just when it seemed India would head home from another Olympics campaign without a gold medal to show, Chopra ended the drought with a monstrous throw of the javelin.
It is incredible to think that a sports-mad country like India had only won one gold medal at the Olympics before. That came 13 years ago when Abhinav Bindra ended the drought with a gold medal in shooting in the 2008 Beijing Games.
Chopra was destined to add his name to that very exclusive list. He started gaining attention back in 2016 when he launched a throw of over 86 meters at the world junior championships in Poland. Chopra then went on an unprecedented gold rush, capturing javelin throw titles in the 2017 Asian Championships, 2018 Commonwealth Games, and the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.
Chopra's road to Olympic glory came to a sudden halt when he started to feel some discomfort in his throwing elbow just a month after his triumph in the Asian Games. He was forced to undergo elbow surgery in May 2019, putting his participation at the Tokyo Olympics in jeopardy.
Chopra eased Indian fans' fears when he returned to action on January 29, 2020, in a tournament at Potchefstroom. Armed with a new throwing motion to avoid re-injuring his elbow, Chopra earned a spot in the Tokyo Games with a throw of 87.86 meters.
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Chopra wins not only the gold medal but also plenty of cash prizes
The COVID-19 pandemic delayed Chopra's date with destiny in Tokyo for a year, but he ensured the long wait was worthwhile. Chopra will now head home a sporting icon after becoming just the second Indian to win an individual gold at the Olympics.
Riches await Chopra upon his arrival with the government in his home state of Haryana, giving a 60 million rupee ($800,000) bonus as a reward for his historic achievement. Other state governments also offered $400,000 to Chopra, while a leading education company will give $270,000.
The Chennai Super Kings and the Indian cricket board BCCI also vowed to give $135,000 each to Chopra, who will also get a cash prize of $100,000 from the Indian Olympic Association. Chopra's bonuses have now exceeded $2 million, with other companies giving free air travel, luxury cars, and cash gifts to the Indian star.
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