Picture Credit: Twitter
Former India long jumper Anju Bobby George, who had won the World Championships bronze back in 2003, congratulated Neeraj Chopra who bagged the Silver in the World Athletics Championship. While speaking in an interview, George said that the wait for this medal for India has been too long.
She welcomed Chopra to the group and tweeted, “Congratulations @Neeraj_chopra1 for that magic moment..N welcome to the group..it was a long wait. Thanks to @afiindia @Media_SAI @ianuragthakur for all the support.”
Anju Bobby George, in the interview, addressed how the wait between her medal and Chopra’s achievement has been 19 years and now she isn’t alone in this club of athletes who have won medals at the World Championships. She said, “I would like to congratulate Neeraj first of all and I'm really happy that he is coming back with the silver medal at the World Championships. It was a long wait -- 19 years -- and now I have company. So, Neeraj, I am waiting for you. Good luck for the Commonwealth Games."
She talked about the World Athletics Championship is considered the zenith in athletics and is very different from the Olympics, where Neeraj Chopra became the first Asain to win a Gold in the Javelin throw.
George said, "World Championships are different for the athletes. It is the highest that we compete for. Olympics games are a different thing but as far as athletics is concerned, the World Championship is the highest.
“The toughness of the competition is different and handling the pressure isn't easy. It's a silver after the Olympics gold from the same man and keeping up the momentum in pressure. We were all feeling the pressure, so I am very happy that he won the silver medal," she continued.
Chopra had a shaky start to his final. He had a foul start and then registered throws of 82.39m and 86.37m in his second and third attempts, respectively. Then the Panipat-born made a strong comeback on his fourth throw and pulled off a monumental throw of 88.13m to jump from fourth to the second spot before ending his final with the fifth and sixth throws being fouls.