Tokyo: Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Saturday became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, out-performing the field by some distance to immortalise himself as the first track-and-field Games medal-winner for the country. While talking about his achievement, a visibly emotional Chopra remembered the great Milkha Singh and dedicated his gold medal to the legendary sprinter who was also widely known as The Flying Sikh.

“I dedicate this medal to Milkha Singh. I hope he’s watching upon me from wherever he is,” he told the media after becoming the first Indian to win gold in athletics.  Milkha Singh, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George had earlier come close to winning a medal in athletics at the Olympic Games but missed the podium by the smallest of margins. Neeraj took the opportunity and dedicated the medal to all the veteran athletes who missed out on a podium finish.

“I didn’t think about the gold medal. Aaj kuch alag karna tha (I wanted to do something special today). I wanted to break the Olympic record and overdid it because of that,” Neeraj added.

The medal ceremony at the end where the national anthem was played meant the world to the 23-year-old javelin thrower and he went on to add that he was about to cry when the national anthem was being played.

“It feels unbelievable. It is the first time India has won a gold in athletics, so I feel very good. We have just one gold here in other sports,” the 23-year-old javelin star said. “This is our first Olympic medal for a very long time, and in athletics it is the first time we have gold, so it’s a proud moment for me and my country.”

“In the qualification round I threw very well so I knew I could do better in the final. (But) I didn’t know it would be gold but I am very happy,” Chopra said when asked whether he was suprised to win gold in an event that also featured German great Johannes Vetter.