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Asian Games 2018: Neeraj Chopra Clinches Gold By Shattering His Own National Record

India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Monday won the gold medal at the Asian Games 2018. This was India’s 8th gold medal at the Asian Games. Neeraj Chopra threw 83.46 metres off his first throw and that set the mark for a medal finish. Of the six attempts he got, Neeraj had committed two fouls.

His second and sixth attempts were fouls. His third attempt was 88.06 metres while his fourth was 83.25 metres and his fifth one was 86.36 metres. He also shattered his own national record by clearing a distance of 88.06m. Chopra’s gold is India’s only second medal in javelin throw in Asian Games history after Gurtej Singh won a bronze in 1982 in New Delhi.

Chopra’s biggest rival was expected to be Chao Tsun Cheng, who last year recorded a throw of 91.36m but the Chinese Taipei thrower could manage a best of 79.81 to finish fifth. Chopra, the world junior record holder of 86.48, has been in tremendous form this season as has consistently crossed the 85m mark. He won the Federation Cup in March with 85.94m, clinched 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.

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