Congratulations are pouring in for 25-year-old javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the golden boy of Indian athletics, an Olympic champion who became the first Indian ever to clinch a gold medal in the javelin throw at the World Athletics Championship late Sunday night at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest.
Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem came in second place with his 87.82-meter toss, while Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic settled for bronze with his best throw of 86.67 meters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praised Chopra on Monday, tweeting that his dedication, precision, and passion make him not just a champion in athletics but a symbol of unparalleled excellence in the entire sports world.
India's celebrities, sports enthusiasts, and netizens flooded social media with reactions, hailing Chopra for bringing laurels to the country.
Calling Chopra's win a "watershed moment in Indian sporting history," India's Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Anurag Thakur expressed his pride and appreciation for the athlete's remarkable achievement.
The Indian Army, former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag, and several others lauded Chopra's accomplishment.
After legendary shooter Abhinav Bindra, Chopra has become the second Indian to simultaneously hold the Olympics and World Championships title.
Bindra won the World Championships title when he was 23, and the Olympics gold at 25.
Chopra, who made history as the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal in track and field at the Tokyo Games in 2021, continued his impressive journey by securing a silver medal in the highly competitive World Championships of 2022.