29 August,2023 07:03 AM IST | Budapest | Sundeep Misra
Neeraj Chopra
This was about annexing new territory, laying claim to that missing piece of gold in his growing repertoire of medallions and believe Neeraj Chopra when he says it didn't come easy. It all started with a foul; the rest of the 11 finalists had successful first throws.
That itself creates doubt, so what if the man is the reigning Olympic and Diamond League champion.
Budapest's National Athletic Centre was packed with fans. At the other end, the women's high jump was in progress. Ten minutes later, the men's 5000m final began. And in all this noise, announcements, cheers, the roar of the fans, Chopra was coming to terms with a foul in his first throw. The longest throw in Round One went to Finland's Oliver Helander, 83.38m. Chopra's second was big, 88.17m. Now, the pressure shifted from Chopra to the others who had to chase.
Germany's Julian Weber was the first to respond with 85.79m. Six throwers went 80-plus, rhythm was being established. In the third round, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, made his intent clear with a massive 87.82m, short off Chopra, but enough to cause anxiety in the Indian camp. Nadeem tends to fly below the radar. He is six feet-plus, but looks larger in real life with shoulders and chest that could stop a tank. Unlike a Chopra or a Weber, who sprint in, Nadeem ambles in and throws powerfully. Momentum is key to someone like Nadeem. His hands are huge, like the Barbari, the Persian flat bread. A javelin in his hand would almost be like a pencil in a normal person's fist. Chopra's third throw was 86.32m.
After the first three throws, Chopra led while DP Manu and Kishore Jena were in the top eight. The bottom four went out of the competition. Now, eight would battle it out in the last three throws. Chopra threw 84.64 in his fourth. Nadeem threw 87.15m. It was getting close. With two throws remaining, Jakub Vadlejch jumped into the third spot with 86.67m. Nadeem fouled his fifth; that would bring it down to one big throw for the Pakistani to overtake Chopra. Nadeem's sixth was 81.86m after Vadlejch had fouled his sixth. With a throw remaining, Chopra was already world champion, his second throw of 88.17m, giving him the gold; his set of Olympic, World and Diamond League now complete. From India's standpoint, this was its first track and field World Championship gold, a nation's thirst, finally quenched. Pakistan also created a record, clinching its first track and field silver medal.
With Kishore Jena and DP Manu finishing fifth, sixth, India had three javelin throwers in the world's top six: an amazing achievement.
"Everyone used to say that this was the only medal left, but I've won that too, now only 90m is left. I was thinking [the 90m mark] will happen, but the gold medal was more important. And now I will put more effort in the upcoming competitions," said Chopra.
The world champion did not forget to thank his fans. "I will say thank you to my countrymen for being awake at night to support us. A big thank you and this medal is for the whole country. We became Olympic champions, and we are now World Champions. We Indians can do anything."
Chopra may garner a huge amount of attention now because he is a world champion too but, in his wake, a whole new generation of self-assured athletes are not only gaining confidence, but also growing in stature.
