Neeraj Chopra created history at the World Athletics Championships 2023 as he won India’s first gold medal in the competition’s history. Neeraj clinched the gold medal with a distance of 88.17m in just his second attempt. But is Neeraj Chopra the only medalist from India in the World Athletics Championships history?
World Athletics Championships 2023
Apart from Neeraj Choopra’s historic gold medal, there were no medal winners this year. But all in all the tournament was a successful one for India as this year recorded a total of 28 participants from India. Everyone was impressed by the Indian 4x400m relay team, who not only qualified for the final but also broke the previous Asian record. Parul Chaudhary also performed admirably, setting a new national record in the steeplechase final and earning a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
First Indian to win a medal at the World Athletics Championships
Since India first competed at the World Athletics Championships in 1983, a total of three medals have been won by Indian athletes.
Anju Bobby George won bronze in the women’s long jump competition in Paris in 2003 to earn India its first medal. George had just barely qualified for the final with her 6.59m, which was slightly higher than Concepción Montaner’s 6.53m in last place.
Tatyana Kostova won the silver medal with a jump of 6.74 meters, although George narrowly missed it by jumping a huge 6.70 meters in the final.
Is this Neeraj Chopra’s second medal at the World Athletics Championships?
19 years after George, Neeraj Chopra won India’s second medal at the World Athletics Championships in 2022 when he won the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw. He came in last place behind Anderson Peters of Grenada, who threw an incredible 90.54 meters. Neeraj has never surpassed the 90-meter barrier.
On Sunday, Neeraj improved upon his previous performance to bring India its first gold medal ever in the World Athletics Championships. His distance of 88.17 meters was enough to defeat Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who won the silver medal with a throw of 87.82 meters, his season’s best.
Indian medal tally at the World Athletics Championships
| Name | Year | Event | Medal |
| Anju Bobby George | 2003 | Women’s Long Jump | Bronze |
| Neeraj Chopra | 2022 | Men’s Javelin Throw | Silver |
| Neeraj Chopra | 2023 | Men’s Javelin Throw | Gold |
