National Javelin Day is annually celebrated across India on 7th August to commemorate the day on which Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold at Tokyo 2020 Olympics and became the first Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in men’s javelin throw.
The day also aims to promote javelin throw across India and to attract more youth to the sport.
- 7th August 2023 marks the observance of the 2nd National Javelin Day.
The annual observance of the National Javelin Day is led by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), apex body for athletics in India.
Background:
On 11th August 2021, the The Athletics Federation of India(AFI) declared the 7th August of every year, starting from 2022, as the National Javelin Day.
The first ever National Javelin Day was observed on 7th August 2022.
Tokyo Olympics 2021
i.On 7th August 2021, Neeraj Chopra won the men’s javelin throw gold at Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a throw of 87.58m and became the 1st Asian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in men’s javelin throw.
ii.He is the 2nd individual Olympic gold medalist from India after Abhinav Bindra (Shooter), who won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
About Neeraj Chopra:
Neeraj Chopra was born on 24th December 1997 in Panipat, Haryana. He joined the Indian Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and Naib Subedar in 2016 under 4 Rajputana Rifles, one of the Army’s oldest rifle regiments. He has been promoted to Subedar-Major following his olympic medal.
Neeraj Chopra’s achievements:
i.In 2014, he won the first-ever international medal (silver) in the Youth Olympics Qualification in Bangkok, Thailand.
ii.In 2015, he received his first medal in a national senior championship during the Inter-State event in Chennai, Tamil Nadu (TN) with a throw of 77.33 meters.
iii.In 2016, he won a gold medal at the South Asian Games in Guwahati, Assam and gold at the World U20 Championships in Poland.
iv.In 2017, he won gold at the 22nd Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.
v.In 2018, he won the gold medal in Commonwealth Games in Australia and the gold at the Asian Games in Indonesia.
vi.In July 2022, he also won the won silver at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland and gold at the Kuortane Games in Finland.
vii.Recently in 2022, Chopra registered his personal best throw to date and a new national record at the Stockholm Diamond League in Sweden with an 89.94m.
Awards:
Arjuna Award (Athletics) – 2018
Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) – 2020
Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (Athletics) – 2021
Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) – 2022
Padma Shri (Sports) – 2022
About Athletics Federation of India (AFI):
President- Adille J. Sumariwalla
Established- 1946
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
