Updated

Tokyo, Aug 7 (IANS): Neeraj Chopra on Saturday made history by becoming the first Indian to win gold medal in athletics at Olympic Games when he clinched first position at Tokyo 2020 with a throw of 87.58 metres in javelin competition.

Chopra has also become only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics. Bindra had won gold at the 2008 Olympics in shooting.

The 23-year-old Chopra now holds gold medals in javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympics, all at the same time.

Chopra's gold means India, with seven medals at Tokyo Games, have surpassed the tally of six medals won at 2012 London Olympics. This is the biggest tally of medals won by India in a single edition of Olympics.

Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch bagged silver medal with a throw of 86.67m while compatriot Vitezslav Vesley took bronze medal with a throw of 85.44m.

Both got their season's best throws on their fifth and third attempts respectively.

After finishing first in the qualification round on Wednesday with a throw of 86.59m, Chopra continued his impressive performance in the final on Saturday, recording a first throw of 87.03m.

He followed it up with 87.58m in his second attempt. It turned out to be the best throw of the night.

The 23-year-old's third attempt was well below the 80m mark at 76.39m. He followed it up with two fouls on his fourth and fifth throws. His last attempt was 84.24m. By then, however, the inevitable was confirmed as the other competittors couldn't match his best throw.

World No. 1 Johannes Vetter of Germany, a favourite to win the gold alongside Chopra, continued his rough form from qualification to the final and was ousted after the initial three of the six throws.

The 28-year-old, who came into the Olympics after seven massive throws of over 90m between April and June, opened with 82.52m.

But fouls on the next two throws meant he finished ninth and crashed out of the competition as only top eight progress. During his second throw, Vetter happened to injure his ankle too.

The other Asian thrower in the final, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem finished fifth with his best throw coming in his third attempt at 84.62m.

Neeraj's village erupts into celebrations, chants 'Chak De India'

Chandigarh, Aug 7 (IANS): The non-descript Khandra village in Haryana's Panipat district erupted into celebrations when the news flashed that its talented son, Subedar Neeraj Chopra, VSM, had become the first Indian track and field athlete to win a medal (that too a gold) at the Olympics since the time India officially gained entry into the Games in 1928.

Friends and fans started gathering around the golden boy's family home, where 19 members if his extended family live, as soon as news spread that he had secured his place in the final of the javelin thrown event in Tokyo.

His family said the entire village and even people from neighbouring villages had been watching his performance for the past few days on television sets installed at public places.

As the news of his victory was televised, people gathered at his residence, distributed sweets and danced to the tunes of Punjabi songs. 'Chak de India' slogans rent the village air when the 'golden news' was flashed on television.

His emotional father Satish Kumar, a farmer, said, "I feel elated that my son brought glory to the country." He then added, brimming over with fatherly pride: "Yes, we were confident from day one that he will bring a gold medal for the country."

Chopra's elated mother, Saroj Devi, said the entire village would extend a grand welcome to her son on his return to his native village.

Neeraj's uncle Bhim Chopra said not just the family but the entire village watched his marvelous performance to reach the podium.

Interestingly, India's two gold medal-winning Olympians have a Chandigarh connection -- Neeraj Chopra and shooter Abhinav Bindra. The shooter, who won the gold in Beijing in 2008, grew up in the Chandigarh suburb Zirakpur and Chopra studied at the DAV College, Sector 10, Chandigarh.

Congratulating Chopra on his triumph, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced a cash reward of Rs 6 crore and a Grade A government job for Chopra. He said: "The country was waiting for this moment for a long time."

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also congratulated Neeraj for his historic feat. "Gold! Neeraj Chopra ... you have created history and made the whole country proud," the Chief Minister tweeted.

"Your 87.58m winning throw today will be a part of the legends of the Track and Field arena. India owes you! Jai Hind," Singh added.

In a rare gesture, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, who's normally seen to be letting his hair down, was seen dancing and distributing sweets among his staff when Neeraj scripted history. Vij was articulating the sentiment of the nation.

Haryana announces Rs 6 cr for Neeraj; greetings pour in

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday announced a cash reward of Rs 6 crore and a government job for Neeraj Chopra for winning India's first Olympic gold medal in athletics.

The star athlete from Panipat district in Haryana created histiry after he clinched the gold in javelin throw with an attempt of 87.58 metres, becoming only the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra to win an individual gold medal at the Olympics.

Congratulating Chopra for his triumph, Khattar said he not only won the medal, but also won the heart of the whole country.

"The country was waiting for this moment for a long time and the whole country is proud of him," he said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also congratulated Neeraj for his historuc feat in Tokyo.

"Gold! Neeraj Chopra... you have created history and made the whole country proud," the Chief Minister tweeted.

"Your 87.58 m winning throw today will be part of the legends of the Track and Field arena. India owes you! Jai Hind," he added.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that Neeraj Chopra has made the entire country proud by his historic performance at the Olympics.

"India has got a second gold after 13 years in individual event at the Olympics, which is a matter of pride for the whole country. This is a historic day for the country as it is India's first gold medal in Olympic athletics. Neeraj's achievement would inspire the youth of the country to move ahead in the field of sports," he said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted, "What a monumental victory! Neeraj Chopra has just won the first Olympic Gold Medal for India in athletics. The whole country is elated! Congratulations to Neeraj on this historic victory. You have inspired every Indian. Thank you."

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also congratulated Chopra for his historic feat.

Taking to Instagram, Rahul Gandhi said, "Neeraj Chopra take a bow! A billion hearts beat for you today and each one of us couldn't be more proud."

"Neeraj Chopra brings home the gold! What an outstanding performance. History has been made. India is so proud of you. Congratulations," Priyanka Gandhi tweeted.

Interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi also lavished praise on the star Haryana athlete.

"I join the nation in congratulating the Golden Boy, Neeraj Chopra, for winning the first ever Olympic gold medal for India in track and field. I also extend special congratulations to his coach, family members and well wishers.

"Olympic gold is the biggest achievement in the field of sports and Neeraj Chopra has made every Indian proud with his single-minded devotion, grit and herculean efforts. I am certain that the gold medal win will certainly motivate all our sportspersons to excel further," Sonia Gandhi said in a statement.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said: "The nation stands proud for the 87.58 m throw of Chopra that has written the Indian track and field history with golden letters at the Tokyo Olympics."

Terming Chopra's achievement as a matter of pride for all Indians, Telangana Chief Ministers K. Chandrasekhar Rao said: "Chopra turned the century-old dream of Indians to win a gold medal in athletics into a reality. Indian sportspersons performing exceptionally well at the ongoing Olympics is a matter to cherish."