Some were emotional and some jubilant in anticipation of a new beginning as the legends of Indian athletics on Saturday extolled star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s Gold medal winning feat at the Olympic Games, terming it a ‘defining’ and ‘watershed’ moment in country’s sports history.
“I became emotional just after Neeraj won the Gold. It is a historic moment and of course a defining one in our athletics history,” track legend PT Usha said.
“I feel this Gold will take Indian athletics to another level. We could not give our athletics fans an athletics medal in Olympics. I think we have redeemed ourselves with this Gold from Neeraj.”
She, however, said she was not expecting a Gold initially from Chopra but realised after his second throw that he is going to grab the yellow metal.
India’s lone medallist in world championships, Anju Bobby George agreed with Usha and said, it should only be the beginning of many good things in Indian athletics.
“It is not easy to win medal in Olympics. It is as tough in World Championships but Olympics medal is special.
“So, it is a watershed moment for Indian athletics. My medal in World Championships (in 2003) brought a lot of changes in Indian athletics for the better. We started winning medals in Commonwealth Games. The same we hope from the Gold from Neeraj.”
Talking about the 23-year-old Chopra, Anju, also a senior vice president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), said, “He is still young and we can expect a lot from him in the coming events and Olympics.”