PM Modi congratulates Neeraj Chopra for winning silver medal at World Athletics Championships

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra for his historic feat of winning the silver medal at the World Athletics Championships on Sunday.

Neeraj threw his spear to a distance of 88.13 meters in the final to clinch the silver medal at the Hayward Field in Eugene and became the first male athlete and second Indian after long jumper Anju Bobby George to win a medal at the mega event.

Taking to Twitter PM wrote: "A great accomplishment by one of our most distinguished athletes! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra on winning a historic Silver medal at the World Championships. This is a special moment for Indian sports. Best wishes to Neeraj for his upcoming endeavours."

Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said: "Congratulations Neeraj Chopra for a scintillating silver medal performance at the World Athletics Championships. A commendable achievement that will take Indian sport forward."

Anju Bobby George, who won bronze medal at the worlds in 2003 in Paris, welcomed Chopra to an exclusive club and said: "Congratulations Neeraj for that magic moment..N welcome to the group..it was a long wait..."

Indian Army also congratulated the javelin star and tweeted: "Neeraj Chopra has once again made Indian Army and the nation proud. Indian Army congratulates Subedar Neeraj Chopra on winning Silver Medal in men's Javelin in World Athletics Championships Oregon 2022 with throw of 88.13 meters."

Chopra is enlisted into the Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) under 4 Rajputana Rifles - one of the oldest rifle regiments.

Union Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anurag Thakur heaped praise on Chopra for his feat, he said: "NEERAJ ADDS ANOTHER HISTORIC FEAT TO HIS LIST. Neeraj wins silver in Men's javelin throw at orld championships with his best throw of 88.13m, becoming the 1st Indian male and 2nd Indian to win a medal at the Worlds. Neeraj has now won medal at every Global event."

Union Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju said: "Neeraj Chopra has created history again by winning a silver medal at World Athletics Championship in Oregon. He becomes the 1st man and the 2nd Indian to win medal at the World Championships after long-jumper Anju Bobby George's bronze in 2003".

"The man of the moment! Remarkable performance yet again from Neeraj Chopra as he becomes the 2nd Indian to win a World Championships Medal with Silver In Oregon," said Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs & Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir said: "This guy is unstoppable. He is his own competition!" (UNI)