World Athletics Championships: Neeraj Chopra vs Anju Bobby George: Neeraj Chopra has added another feather in his javelin throw career in the ongoing World Athletics Championships on Sunday. The athlete won a silver medal with a throw of 88.13m in the final. It helped him become the second Indian track and field athlete to win a medal at the prestigious World Championships. Anju Bobby George was the first Indian to achieve the feat in Paris 2003, winning bronze in her long jump event.
World Athletics Championships: Neeraj Chopra silver in 2022 or Anju Bobby George bronze in 2003, which one is a bigger feat?
Here is a look at how both the athletes fared in their respective events.
Neeraj Chopra silver
Even before the competition began, there were lot of talks about he emerged as the one of the favourites for the gold medal. The expectations were always high when it came to Neeraj, especially after the Tokyo gold.
It’s a historic World Championship Medal for #India 🇮🇳
Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra wins Silver Medal in men’s Javelin Throw final of the #WorldAthleticsChamps with a throw of 88.13m
Congratulations India!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/nbbGYsw4Mr
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) July 24, 2022
After a throw of 88.39 in the qualification round, Chopra could not find his A game in the final. A couple of weeks back, Neeraj had managed a throw of 89.94, and one expected him to do better. However, his throw of 88.13, his best throw did not prove to be enough for him to win gold.
It was Anderson Peters, who walked away with the gold after throwing the spear a distance of an amazing 90.54m to take first place.
Anju Bobby George bronze
In terms of Anju Bobby George, she is the best long jumper India has ever produced. Though she came close to winning a medal at the Athens Olympics, her medal in the World Championships is still talked about in the track and field.
In the 2003 World Championships, she qualified for the final with a jump of 6.59m. It was the sixth best jump in the qualification. When it came to the final, she knew of the need to up her game to win a medal.
World Athletics Championships: Neeraj Chopra silver in 2022 or Anju Bobby George bronze in 2003, which one is a bigger feat?
Anju did exactly that with a fine performance. She consistently jumped 6.55 plus, but it was the fifth jump of 65.70, which helped her eventually win the bronze. It was also her season’s best. Managing to give her season’s best at the world stage is really appreciable.
Which was bigger? Anju edges Neeraj
What Anju achieved back then in 2003 stands out. The World Athletics Championships was always a huge thing, but people did not talk about it like they do now with the presence of social media.
Also, Neeraj has got huge backing from the government, who spends huge money on his training. It was not the same with Anju, who did not have the kind of exposure Neeraj had before the Worlds, featuring in the tough World meets and training abroad as well. Who knows if Anju would have got the kind of facilities and exposure, she could have achieved a lot more with her talent and skill in long jump.
It is also to be noted that Anju was just 4 cms close to finishing with the silver. Tatyana Kotova clinched silver in 2003 World Championships with a jump of 6.70m while Anju was 6.70 for third place.
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