Current and former Indian sportspersons heaped praise on Neeraj Chopra after he created history by becoming the first Indian to win an athletics gold medal at the Olympics by winning the men's javelin throw at Tokyo 2020 on Saturday. Chopra is only the second Indian ever (other than Abhinav Bindra) to win an individual gold, and only the first Indian since independence to win an athletics medal at the Olympics.
India at Tokyo: Saturday's updates | Full coverage | Athletes | Medal tracker | Full schedule | Latest results
Here's how some of India's prominent athletes reacted.
Abhinav Bindra
And Gold it is for @Neeraj_chopra1 .Take a bow, young man ! You have fulfilled a nation's dream. Thank you!
Also, welcome to the club - a much needed addition! Extremely proud. I am so delighted for you.- Abhinav A. Bindra OLY (@Abhinav_Bindra) August 7, 2021
Sachin Tendulkar
नीरज ने जैवेलिन को पहुंचाया सूरज तक!
India shines brighter today because of you, Neeraj.
Your javelin carried the tricolour ���� all the way and made it flutter with the pride of every Indian.
What a moment for Indian sport!#Olympics #Tokyo2020 #Athletics #Gold pic.twitter.com/FZ52Ti6EZc
- Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 7, 2021
Yogeshwar Dutt
यह है दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा खिलाड़ी,
यह है विश्व विजेता,
यह है स्वर्ण पदक,
यह है @Neeraj_chopra1
:flag-in:यह है शेर-ए-हिंद:flag-in:#Gold #NeerajChopra pic.twitter.com/gRAgYmvW0r- Yogeshwar Dutt (@DuttYogi) August 7, 2021
Gagan Narang
GOLD This is the tweet. This is the emotion. Thank you Neeraj Chopra for giving us this joy. You have inspired us, you have given us hopes. You are our hero pic.twitter.com/1F7yfe7z40
- Gagan Narang (@gaGunNarang) August 7, 2021
Gautam Gambhir
His arm represents the strength of 1.3 billion people! ���� #NeerajChopra #Gold pic.twitter.com/GrMQ51qO1l
- Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 7, 2021
PV Sindhu
A historic and iconic way to win GOLD! Congratulations @neeraj_chopra1, on this amazing feat! :fire::clap::skin-tone-4::first_place_medal: #olympics #javelinthrow #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/No3K2sqZq8
- Pvsindhu (@Pvsindhu1) August 7, 2021
PT Usha
Realised my unfinished dream today after 37 years. Thank you my son @Neeraj_chopra1 🇮🇳🥇#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/CeDBYK9kO9
- P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) August 7, 2021
Mithali Raj
Yay yay !!! Can't get over this feeling .. it's a gold . GOLD !!! Neeraj chopra you have been scripted in history #Olympics2020 pic.twitter.com/6yoWElXO3j
- Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) August 7, 2021
Mirabai Chanu
Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 on winning first ever gold medal in Athletics for our country. Really a proud moment for our nation. pic.twitter.com/0OZe0boLIk
- Saikhom Mirabai Chanu (@mirabai_chanu) August 7, 2021
Saina Nehwal
Brilliant brilliant brilliant ������.. @Neeraj_chopra1 #TokyoOlympics #Gold #TeamIndia #NeerajChopra
- Saina Nehwal (@NSaina) August 7, 2021
Virender Sehwag
Woooww!
He's a rocket ,it's a Gold and there are a billion tears of joy.
Such days don't come easy.The first Indian ever to win a Olympic medal in Athletics and it is a #GoldMedal . #NeerajChopra you champion. We are so proud of you. Thank you for giving us so much joy. pic.twitter.com/2MHz2tht7F
- Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 7, 2021
Jeev Milha Singh
Realised my unfinished dream today after 37 years. Thank you my son @Neeraj_chopra1 🇮🇳🥇#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/CeDBYK9kO9
- P.T. USHA (@PTUshaOfficial) August 7, 2021
Sakshi Malik
Woww.. finally GOLD����
Another very special moment for Indians ����
Congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 for winning the Gold�� medal in the #Tokyo2020 #Athletics
Neeraj you inspired crores of youth by achieving this splendid achievement for the country through years of hard work���� pic.twitter.com/gx2TB49mvW- Sakshi Malik (@SakshiMalik) August 7, 2021
Harbhajan Singh
What a proud moment for all of us Neeraj chopra you are GOLD my brother ������ @Olympics @NBCOlympics
- Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 7, 2021
Sharath Kamal
What a fantastic performance! Great way to close #Tokyo2020 ending with our highest medal tally. Take a bow, @Neeraj_chopra1. Top performance from a top athlete! ���� �� pic.twitter.com/rLDftZIJy7
- Sharath Kamal OLY (@sharathkamal1) August 7, 2021
Anil Kumble
Gold for India. Wow!!! #NeerajChopra #Athletics #Olympics #Gold What a moment !!
- Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) August 7, 2021
Viren Rasquinha
GOLD! LEGEND! @Neeraj_chopra1 ����
- Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) August 7, 2021
VVS Laxman
What a day this is for Indian sports.
One of the most significant days in the history of Indian sports.
First ever athletics medal and a #goldmedal at that. Super Proud ! #NeerajChopra you are a champion ! pic.twitter.com/SzyilzUrKk- VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 7, 2021
Heena Sidhu
This is beyond unbelievable.... Beyond anything we could have imagined. Congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 @afiindia @Adille1 @manishamal thi sis what dreams are made of.... UNBELIEVABLE
- Heena SIDHU (@HeenaSidhu10) August 7, 2021
Irfan Pathan
Proud proud moment for India ���� congratulations to whole country. Thank you for making us proud #NeerajChopra #goldmedal
- Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 7, 2021
Rupinder Pal Singh
Sher ki dhahaad ����
We are proud of you, @Neeraj_chopra1 pic.twitter.com/9UoTatrUDs
- Rupinder Pal Singh (@rupinderbob3) August 7, 2021
Dinesh Karthik
We just couldn't have asked for more! ��
Just brilliant @Neeraj_chopra1...you are GOLD!
Our best ever run in #Olympics now... absolutely incredible.#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/qGDty7nkf2- DK (@DineshKarthik) August 7, 2021
Deepa Malik
History scripted with a monumental effort. A gold medal in Javelin Throw, a personal favourite event for me; our first ever in Track & Field #Athletics events at #Olympics and what a way to finish at #Tokyo2020. Our finest Olympic Games yet. Take a bow, @Neeraj_chopra1 ���� pic.twitter.com/j1thZhn3xX
- Deepa Malik (@DeepaAthlete) August 7, 2021
Yuvraj Singh
Yes boy !! You did it . The country salutes you ������♂️ so proud of you ������������������������! �� @Neeraj_chopra1
- Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) August 7, 2021
G Sathiyan
WHAAAT A MOMENT����
There wil be JANA GANA MANA in Tokyo��������Huge Congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 for winning the historic Gold medal for India at the Olympics�� pic.twitter.com/9UFVMTxT8F
- Sathiyan Gnanasekaran (@sathiyantt) August 7, 2021
Suresh Raina
Heartiest congratulations to you @Neeraj_chopra1 for bringing the first GOLD home. Proud of your tremendous performance! Jai Hind������ #Cheer4India #JavelinThrow #Olympics #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/9edsPTIElS
- Suresh Raina���� (@ImRaina) August 7, 2021