Historic! Neeraj Chopra becomes first Indian javelin-thrower to win Gold at Asian Games; medal tally reaches 41
Jakarta, August 28: In the time span of only six months, Neeraj Chopra has for the second time scripted history by winning the gold medal in two different championships. Neeraj Chopra, who won gold at the Commonwealth Games has clinched the yellow metal at Asian Games on Monday.
Notably, scripting his name into the history of sports, Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian javelin-thrower to win an Asian Games gold medal with a distance of 88.06m. The 20-year-old Neeraj’s winning throw came in his third attempt. He began with 83.46m and fouled the second attempt.
While Liu Qizhen of China was a distant second, with a best throw of 82.22m and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won the bronze with an 80.75 effort. Importantly, Neeraj Chopra’s gold is only the second medal India has won in javelin throw in Asian Games history after Gurtej Singh won bronze in 1982 in New Delhi.
Neeraj Chopra, who is the world junior record holder of 86.48, has been in marvelous form this season as has consistently crossed the 85m mark. In March this year, he bagged Federation Cup with 85.94m while a Gold in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with a throw of 86.47m, before the 87.43 effort in Doha. Before coming here, he had 85.17 and 85.69 in France and Finland during his preparations for the Asian Games.
Meanwhile, Dharun Ayyasamy bagged silver in men's 400 metre hurdles at the 2018 Asian Games while Sudha Singh won silver in women's 3000 metre steeplechase. Neena Varakil also won silver in women's long jump with a jump of 6.51. The medal tally of India reached to 41 including 8 gold, 13 silver and 20 bronze and stands at ninth place.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, PM Narendra Modi, Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore and may others congratulated Neeraj for his outstanding performance at Asian Games.
Olympic Silver Medalist PV Sindhu has also assured at least a Silver medal in women's singles Badminton. She will face World No 1 Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying in a Gold rush today. Saina Nehwal also ended the contrary's 36-year wait as she won a bronze medal. The Indian men's table tennis team beat Japan 3-1 in the quarterfinals to assure the country its first-ever medal in the game.
Medal Tally
1- China- 191 Medals (Gold 86, Silver 62, Bronze 43)
2- Japan- 136 Medals (Gold 43, Silver 36, Bronze 57)
3- Korea- 106 Medals (Gold 28, Silver 36, Bronze 42)
India currently on the 9th Position with 41 medals (Gold 8, Silver 13, Bronze 20)