New Delhi, Aug 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended star athlete Neeraj Chopra for securing a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw event at the Paris Olympics on Thursday night, marking him as the third Indian to achieve medals in consecutive Olympic Games.
Neeraj, who previously won gold in Tokyo, delivered his second-best-ever throw of 89.45 metres during the final in Paris. This was his only valid throw in the competition, as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem set a new Olympic record with an impressive 92.97 metres to claim the gold medal.
The Prime Minister expressed the nation's pride in Neeraj's achievement, stating, "Neeraj Chopra is excellence personified! Time and again he’s shown his brilliance. India is elated that he comes back with yet another Olympic success. Congratulations to him on winning the silver. He will continue to motivate countless upcoming athletes to pursue their dreams and make our nation proud," PM Modi wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
With this silver medal, Neeraj Chopra has become only the third Indian to win individual medals in consecutive Olympic Games, joining the ranks of Sushil Kumar (2008, 2012) and PV Sindhu (2016, 2020). Additionally, he is the fourth Indian to win two or more individual Olympic medals, alongside Sushil Kumar, PV Sindhu, and Manu Bhaker (2024).
Neeraj's silver medal marks India’s fifth medal at the Paris Olympic Games and the first in athletics. India's tally so far includes three medals in shooting and one in hockey, alongside Neeraj's remarkable silver.
