Neeraj Chopra Given Ray Of Hope For Rio Olympics Participation
Neeraj Chopra, who became India's first world champion in athletics, could reportedly make it to the Rio Olympics after Athletics Federation of India applied to the IAAF for a wildcard entry
Highlights
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Neeraj Chopra set a junior world record in javelin throw at world meet
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His effort of 86.48m is 1st world record ever by an Indian in athletics
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AFI has applied to IAAF for a wildcard for Neeraj for Rio Olympics
Neeraj Chopra made India proud by setting a new junior world record as he won the gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championship at Bydgoszcz.
By becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat, Chopra could be rewarded even more with reports emerging that the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has applied to the IAAF for a wildcard for Chopra for the Rio Olympics.
Chopra's throw is the eighth best among all javelin throwers this year. He is also ahead of defending Olympic gold medalist Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, whose best in 2016 is 86.35m.
Anju Bobby George, long jumper, is the only Indian to have won a medal in the senior World Championship, a bronze medal in 2003.
Neeraj, 18, had also won the South Asian Games gold in Guwahati earlier this year with a personal best of 82.23m.
- With inputs from Suprita Das -