Neeraj Chopra: Javelin Thrower
Neeraj Chopra is India’s greatest track and field star, best known for becoming the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Games with a throw of 87.58m. He followed this up with a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and in 2025 he became the first Indian javelin thrower to breach the historic 90-metre mark, recording a national record of 90.23m. A World Champion, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and a Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) in the Indian Army, Neeraj continues to represent India on the biggest stages of world athletics as of the 2026 season.
NEERAJ CHOPRA MATCH TIME AT COMMONWEALTH GAMES GLASGOW 2026
Neeraj Chopra Commonwealth Games 2026 Schedule:
| Event | Date | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Javelin Throw Qualification Round | 30 July 2026 | 2:30 PM | Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow |
| Men's Javelin Throw Final Round | 31 July 2026 | 11:00 PM | Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow |
Neeraj Chopra's Road to Glasgow 2026
Known for his powerful throws, excellent technique, and ability to perform under pressure, Neeraj has established himself as one of the greatest athletes in Indian sporting history.
His major international achievements include:
- 🏆 Olympic Gold Medal - Tokyo 2020
- 🥈 Olympic Silver Medal - Paris 2024
- 🏆 World Athletics Championships Gold Medal 2023
- 🥇 Commonwealth Games Gold Medal Gold Coast 2018
His return to the Commonwealth Games is expected to be one of the biggest highlights of Glasgow 2026 Athletics.
Neeraj Chopra's Key Rivals at Commonwealth Games 2026
Arshad Nadeem
Anderson Peters
Anderson Peters, the 2022 World Champion, is known for his powerful throws and consistency at major international competitions. He remains one of the biggest threats for the podium.
With several elite athletes competing, the Men’s Javelin Throw event at Glasgow 2026 is expected to be one of the most competitive athletics events of the Games.
Indian Javelin Throw Team at Commonwealth Games 2026
India will field a strong javelin contingent at the Commonwealth Games 2026. The Indian squad includes:
- 🥇 Neeraj Chopra
- 🥈 Rohit Yadav
- 🥉 Yash Vir Singh
The trio will aim to continue India’s impressive legacy in men’s javelin throw and strengthen the nation’s medal hopes at Glasgow 2026.
Neeraj Chopra Hometown & Early Life
As a young boy, Neeraj was slightly overweight, and his family enrolled him in sports to help him get fitter. He first visited the Shivaji Stadium in Panipat, where he was inspired after watching a javelin fly through the air on the athletics track. This chance encounter set him on the path to the sport that would eventually make him a global star. He trained under his early coach at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, one of the few facilities in the region with a synthetic track at the time.
Neeraj completed his early education locally before pursuing further studies at DAV College and later Lovely Professional University, all while balancing rigorous training. Despite hailing from a small village with limited sporting infrastructure, his discipline and natural talent for the javelin throw carried him from district-level competitions to the world stage.
Neeraj Chopra Javelin Throw & Playing Style
Neeraj Chopra is renowned for his smooth run-up, explosive release, and near-perfect technique, which have made him one of the most consistent big-throw performers in world javelin. Standing 1.86m tall, he generates exceptional speed through his approach before transferring that momentum into a powerful, well-timed release.
Over the years, he has worked with several world-class coaches, including long-time biomechanics expert Klaus Bartonietz, who guided him through his Tokyo and Paris Olympic campaigns. In November 2024, Neeraj brought on Jan Železný a three-time Olympic champion and the current world record holder in javelin throw as his personal coach, a partnership that helped him finally cross the elusive 90 metre mark in 2025.
Neeraj Chopra Olympics
Neeraj Chopra Olympics 2024 (Paris)
Neeraj Chopra entered the Paris 2024 Olympics as the defending champion and one of the biggest medal hopes for India. He comfortably progressed to the final with a strong qualification throw of 89.34m. In the final on 8 August 2024, he produced his season-best effort of 89.45m, but it wasn’t enough to defend his title as Arshad Nadeem produced a monster Olympic record throw of 92.97m to take gold.
Neeraj settled for the silver medal, a result that still made history he became the first Indian to win back to back individual Olympic medals in athletics. After the Paris disappointment, breaching the 90-metre barrier became a defining goal for the remainder of his career, ultimately leading him to bring on Jan Železný as his coach.
Neeraj Chopra Olympic Record
Neeraj Chopra’s Olympic record stands as one of the finest in Indian sporting history. Across two Olympic Games, he has won one gold (Tokyo 2020, 87.58m) and one silver (Paris 2024, 89.45m), making him the only Indian track and field athlete to win multiple Olympic medals.
While Neeraj holds India’s national javelin throw record, the current Olympic record in the men’s javelin throw belongs to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who threw 92.97m to win gold at Paris 2024. Neeraj’s own Olympic-best remains his 89.45m from that same final, the second-best throw in Olympic javelin history.
- Tokyo 2020: Gold medal, 87.58m - first Indian Olympic gold in athletics
- Paris 2024: Silver medal, 89.45m - personal-best Olympic throw
Neeraj Chopra Commonwealth Games 2018
Neeraj Chopra made a memorable Commonwealth Games debut at Gold Coast 2018, winning the gold medal with a Games record throw of 86.47m becoming the first Indian javelin thrower to win a Commonwealth Games 2018 title. He was forced to miss the Birmingham 2022 edition due to injury, handing over his title in his absence.
Neeraj Chopra Asian Games
Neeraj Chopra has been the dominant force in Asian javelin throw for close to a decade. He won his first Asian Games gold at Jakarta 2018 with a commanding throw of 88.06m, finishing well clear of the field.
He successfully defended his title at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games (held in 2023), adding a second consecutive Asian Games gold medal to his collection. Alongside his Asian Games titles, he is also the reigning 2017 Asian Athletics Championships gold medallist, further cementing his status as the undisputed number one javelin thrower in Asia.
Neeraj Chopra Career & Achievements
Neeraj Chopra first announced himself on the world stage at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Poland, where he set a world U20 record of 86.48m a mark that still stands and made him the first Indian athlete to set a world record in athletics. The same year, he won gold at the South Asian Games in Guwahati.
In 2022, he became the first Indian Diamond League champion, winning the Zurich Diamond League final with a throw of 88.44m. A year later, he made history again by becoming the first Indian to win a World Athletics Championships gold medal, triumphing at the 2023 Budapest World Championships.
He briefly stepped away from the international javelin circuit due to an elbow injury in 2019 that required surgery and sidelined him for 16 months, but he returned stronger, culminating in his historic Tokyo Olympics gold in 2021. Off the field, Neeraj serves as a commissioned officer with the Indian Army, having joined as a Junior Commissioned Officer in 2016 and since been honoured with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary).
Neeraj Chopra Stats
Neeraj Chopra’s personal best and national record throw stands at 90.23m, achieved at the Doha Diamond League in May 2025. His progression over the years reflects consistent improvement at the highest level of world javelin throw.
| Competition / Best | Distance | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Record (Personal Best) | 90.23m | 2025 | Doha Diamond League |
| World U20 Record | 86.48m | 2016 | World U20 Championships gold |
| Tokyo Olympics 2020 | 87.58m | 2021 | Gold Medal |
| Paris Olympics 2024 | 89.45m | 2024 | Silver Medal |
| World Championships | 88.17m | 2023 | Gold Medal (Budapest) |
| Diamond League Final | 88.44m | 2022 | Gold Medal (Zurich) |
| Asian Games | 88.06m | 2018 | Gold Medal (Jakarta) |
| Commonwealth Games | 86.47m | 2018 | Gold Medal (Gold Coast) |
Note: Statistics reflect Neeraj Chopra’s career record and best-known throws as of the 2026 season; competition results are updated regularly.
Neeraj Chopra Net Worth (2026)
Neeraj Chopra’s net worth is estimated in the range of ₹37-48 crore (approximately US$4.5-5.5 million) as of 2025-2026, according to various media estimates, with his wealth continuing to grow through endorsements, prize money, and government rewards following his Olympic and World Championship successes.
A significant part of his income comes from brand endorsements he has been associated with more than two dozen major brands including Nike, Adidas, Puma, Visa, and several others. He also earns a salary as a Lieutenant Colonel (Honorary) in the Indian Army, receives prize money from international competitions, and has been awarded substantial cash rewards from central and state governments following his Olympic medals. Neeraj owns a three-storey family home in Khandra, Haryana, along with a collection of vehicles including a Range Rover Sport, a Ford Mustang GT, and a Toyota Fortuner.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Estimated Net Worth | Approximately ₹37–48 Crore |
| Primary Income Sources | Brand Endorsements, Prize Money, Army Salary, Government Rewards |
| Profession | Athlete (Javelin Throw), Army Officer |
Neeraj Chopra Wife
Neeraj Chopra married Himani Mor, a former tennis player from Sonipat, Haryana, in a private ceremony held in Himachal Pradesh on 16 January 2025, attended only by close family and friends. The couple announced the news publicly on social media a few days later, with Neeraj writing that he was “grateful for every blessing” that brought them together.
Himani Mor is an alumna of Little Angels School in Sonipat and studied at Delhi University’s Miranda House College before pursuing a Master’s degree in Sports Management and Administration at the McCormack Isenberg School of Management in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
| Relation | Name / Details |
|---|---|
| Wife | Himani Mor (Former Tennis Player) |
| Marriage Date | 16 January 2025 |
| Father | Satish Kumar |
| Mother | Saroj Devi |
Neeraj Chopra Awards, Honours & Recognition
Neeraj Chopra has received several of India’s highest civilian and sporting honours in recognition of his achievements, alongside distinctions from the Indian Army for his service.
| Award / Honour | Year |
|---|---|
| Arjuna Award | 2018 |
| Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award (India's highest sporting honour) | 2021 |
| Padma Shri | 2022 |
| Param Vishisht Seva Medal (Indian Army) | 2022 |
| Vishisht Seva Medal (Indian Army) | 2021 |
Beyond national honours, Neeraj has also been widely celebrated internationally for redefining India’s standing in world athletics, becoming one of the most recognisable faces in Indian sport and a role model for a new generation of track and field athletes.
Legacy
Neeraj Chopra’s legacy goes far beyond his medals. He transformed India’s relationship with track and field, proving that a farmer’s son from a small Haryana village could compete with, and beat, the very best javelin throwers in the world.
- First Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in athletics (Tokyo 2020)
- First Indian to win two individual Olympic medals in athletics (Tokyo 2020 gold, Paris 2024 silver)
- First Indian Diamond League champion (Zurich 2022)
- First Indian to win a World Athletics Championships gold medal (Budapest 2023)
- First Indian javelin thrower to breach the 90-metre mark (Doha, 2025)
From a small village in Haryana to the top of the Olympic podium, Neeraj Chopra’s journey continues to inspire a new generation of Indian athletes to dream bigger on the world stage.
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