XtraTime Web Desk: India’s Neeraj Chopra won the eighth gold medal for the nation in the ongoing Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta today. From his very first attempt he looked in top form as his throw was 83.46m. But in the third attempt he left everyone behind with a huge throw of 88.06m which helped him to bag the top prize. Though his second throw was cancelled by the officials but it didn’t affect his numbers as he threw 83.25m and 86.26m respectively in his fourth and fifth attempt respectively.
It’s true that he missed the Asian Games record by a whisker with just 1.09m but he made a national record as he surpassed his own previous best of 87.43m, which he threw in last May during the Diamond League Meeting in Doha.
Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Chao Tsun, who was expected to give a stiff competition to Chopra failed to challenge Neeraj as he was unable to cross the 80m mark.
Shivapal Singh, another athlete representing India in the same event, midway declined from the event due to a shoulder injury.
The nation last finished on the podium in this event back in 1982 Asian Games which took place in New Delhi. Gurtej Singh bagged the bronze for India that time.