Neeraj’s Olympic Gold Makes August 7 National Javelin Day

The Athletics Federation of India announced that every year August 7 will be celebrated as National Javelin Day as it is the day Neeraj Chopra scripted history by winning the Olympic gold medal at Tokyo Olympics.

Neeraj Chopra is the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold when he clinched the yellow medal in the javelin throw with a best effort of 87.58m. AFI’s Planning Commission chairman Lalit Bhanot said that in order to encourage javelin throw pan-India, the country will celebrate August 7 as National Javelin Day.

“From next year onwards our affiliated units will hold javelin competitions in their respective states,” Lalit Bhanot said during a felicitation function of the athletes, including Chopra. He further added that they will conduct inter-district competitions and will provide javelins (because there will be a lot many required). “We will enlarge the competitions in the coming years to become a national event.”

The AFI started the National Open Javelin Throw Championships in 2018 and its third edition is scheduled for October this year. Neeraj said that he is happy to learn that the AFI is making his achievement a memory and will be remembered in the days to come. “I will be happy if my achievement becomes a reason to inspire the youngsters of this country to take athletics, especially javelin,” he said.