BEFORE NEERAJ CHOPRA, DEVENDRA JHAJHARIA HAS WON 2 GOLD MEDALS IN PARALYMPICS IN JAVELIN THROW
New Delhi, August 10, 2021: It took 13 long years, but India’s wait for an elusive Olympic gold finally ended as Neeraj Chopra scripted history in Tokyo. The javelin thrower put in a performance of a lifetime to send the country into ecstasy. It made him only the second Indian Olympian to win a gold medal in individual category at the Games.
The last being shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won gold at Beijing Olympics in 2008. While Neeraj Chopra wrote his name into history books, he isn’t the only javelin thrower to have won gold at an Olympic event.
But as we celebrate Neeraj Chopra’s gold at Tokyo2020, let’s also remember Devendra Jhajharia, who has won two gold medals in the same sport (Javelin Throw) for India at the Paralympic games.
In 2016, Paralympian Devendra Jhajharia, won a gold medal by throwing a javelin at a then world-record distance of 63.97 metres in Rio. He broke his own world record which he set en route to a gold in the 2004 Athens Olympics when his event F46 javelin throw.
Some people are meant to achieve the heights of success and some are meant to repeat that feat, only for the world to marvel at their achievements. For Devendra though, things were far from ideal when he tread out on the path to greatness in his domain.
When @DevJhajharia sent it flying in Rio!
We were reminded of this world record #Paralympics moment after seeing @Neeraj_Chopra1 seal a historic #Olympics gold for #TeamIndia. @ParaAthletics | @ParalympicIndia | #IND | #Tokyo2020 | #NeerajChopra pic.twitter.com/mkDak6leGa
— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) August 7, 2021
But his success – made tougher against the backdrop of financial disabilities – is testament to his willpower and physical prowess.
Devendra is India’s top para-athlete with lots of experience in field events. The 40-year-old was born in Rajasthan’s Churu district and now his achievements can be proudly celebrated by the whole country.
His feats, apart from the two Paralympic gold medals (Athens 2004, Rio 2016) include winning gold medals at the 2002 FESPIC Games in South Korea and 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, apart from silver at the same event in 2015 and one at the 2014 Asian Games. In fact, his gold at the World Championships in 2013 was the first ever for India.
Devendra Jhajharia will be dreaming of more sports glory as he takes into action at the 2020 Summer Paralympics which are scheduled to start on August 24 in Tokyo.
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