New Delhi: Sporting fraternity with the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag hailed star Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold medal in Athletics at Tokyo Olympics on Saturday.
“India shines brighter today because of you, Neeraj. Your javelin carried the tricolour all the way and made it flutter with the pride of every Indian. What a moment for Indian sport!” Tendulkar tweeted.
“Gold for India. Wow!!! #NeerajChopra #Athletics #Olympics #Gold What a moment !!” Kumble wrote.
“What a day this is for Indian sports. One of the most significant days in the history of Indian sports. First-ever athletics medal and a #goldmedal at that. Super Proud ! #NeerajChopra you are a champion !” Laxman posted on his twitter handle.
Woooww! He’s a rocket, it’s Gold and there are a billion tears of joy. Such days don’t come easy.
“The first Indian ever to win an Olympic medal in Athletics and it is a #GoldMedal . #NeerajChopra you champion. We are so proud of you. Thank you for giving us so much joy,” Sehwag took to Twitter.
Others sportspersons who congratulated Neeraj were Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan, Dinesh Karthik, Parthiv Patel and Krunal Pandya.
Chopra, threw a best of attempt of 87.58m in the finals to end India’s 100-year wait for a track and field medal in the Olympics.
Neeraj’s gold, a historic first for the country in track and field, the second for an individual ever and the first since Abhinav Bindra’s in 2008, took India’s medal count at Tokyo 2020 to seven – making it their best-ever haul at a single Olympics.
Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch won silver and fellow Czech Vitezslav Vesely bagged the bronze medal.
