List of Indian medalists at World Athletics Championships

Neeraj Chopra became the first Indian to clinch a gold medal

India has been taking part at the World Athletics Championships since 1983. Though India is home to some world-class athletes, the country failed to perform consistently on the global stage. So far, India has only clinched three medals at the World Championships and Neeraj Chopra recently became the first Indian to clinch the gold medal at World Athletics Championships 2023. However, it was Anju Bobby George who won India its first medal in 2003 and opened the medal tally.

In this article we will take a look at the medal winners for India at the Worth Athletics Championships.

Anju Bobby George (2003)

Anju ended India’s wait for a maiden medal by winning bronze at the World Athletics Championship 2003 in Paris. Anju Bobby George’s bronze medal is still remembered as a landmark event in the history of Indian Athletics. She created history for India on the biggest stage of World Athletics. For Anju, the path to the historic medal was not a cakewalk. She competed in the tournament with an injured leg.

In an interview, Anju Bobby George revealed about her struggle before the championships and said, “I was completely broken after the injury in my takeoff leg. The world championships were something that I was preparing for, and following the injury, I could barely walk. I had swelling in different parts.” This injury couldn’t stop Anju Bobby George as she went on to clinch India’s first-ever medal.

In the first attempt of the finals, Anju registered an impressive jump of 6.61m. Despite a good start, she failed to register a valid jump in her next two attempts, causing a lapse in her rhythm. The final attempt was a do-or-die situation for her, as she had to surpass Jade Johnson’s attempt of 6.63m to get to a podium finish. The ace Indian long jumper jumped a massive distance of 6.70m to clinch the first-ever medal for India at the World Athletics Championships.

Neeraj Chopra (2022 and 2023)

Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra continued to create history for India with a historic silver medal win in the men’s javelin throw event at the World Athletics Championship 2022. Earlier in 2021, he clinched the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2021.

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Neeraj qualified for the finals of the men’s javelin throw final after registering a massive throw of 88.39m in the qualification round. He confirmed his silver medal with a best effort of 88.13m in his fourth attempt. His silver medal at the World Athletics Championships concluded India’s 19-year long-drought for a second medal at the World Athletics Championships.

He didn’t stop there as he went a step further in the following year to clinch a historic gold medal at the World Athletics Championships 2023. He registered a season best mark of 88.77m in the qualifying round and in the finals recorded 88.17m to clinch the top spot. Neeraj Chopra also became the first Indian athlete to win two medals at the Worlds.

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