Week 2: Day 11 – Athletics & Individual Sports

INDIAN ATHLETICS – OVERVIEW

Governing Body: Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Founded: 1946 President: Adille Sumariwalla International Body: World Athletics (formerly IAAF)

India’s Greatest Achievement:

• Neeraj Chopra: First Olympic gold in athletics (Tokyo 2020)
• First World Championships gold (2023)

NEERAJ CHOPRA – INDIA’S GOLDEN BOY

Personal Information

• Full Name: Lieutenant Colonel Neeraj Chopra PVSM VSM
• Born: December 24, 1997 (Age: 28 as of 2026)
• Birthplace: Khandra village, Panipat district, Haryana
• Event: Javelin Throw
• Current Ranking: World No. 2 (2024)
• Army Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (special appointment)

Career Highlights

TOKYO 2020 OLYMPICS – GOLD MEDAL 🥇

• Date: August 7, 2021
• Throw: 87.58m (second throw)
• Significance:
  • India’s FIRST Olympic gold in athletics
  • First Asian to win Olympic javelin gold
  • Second Indian individual Olympic gold medalist (after Abhinav Bindra)
  • Youngest Indian Olympic gold medalist in individual event
  • India’s 12th Olympic medal
• Impact: National hero status, ended 121-year wait for athletics gold

PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS – SILVER MEDAL 🥈

• Date: August 8, 2024
• Throw: 89.45m (second throw – season’s best)
• Defeated by: Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan) – 92.97m (Olympic record)
• Significance:
  • First Indian with 2 Olympic medals in athletics
  • One of only 5 Indians with multiple individual Olympic medals
    • Others: Norman Pritchard, Sushil Kumar, PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker
  • Second-best throw of his career
  • Named best javelin thrower of 2024 by Track & Field News (USA)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023 – GOLD MEDAL 🥇

• Location: Budapest, Hungary
• Date: August 27, 2023
• Throw: 88.17m
• Significance:
  • FIRST ASIAN to win World Championships javelin gold
  • India’s first World Championships gold in any track & field event
  • Major breakthrough before Paris Olympics

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 – SILVER MEDAL 🥈

• Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
• Date: July 24, 2022
• Throw: 88.13m
• Significance:
  • India’s first World Championships medal in athletics
  • First Indian to reach World Championships javelin final

ASIAN GAMES 2023 – GOLD MEDAL 🥇

• Location: Hangzhou, China
• Throw: 88.88m (season’s best at that time)
• Second Asian Games gold (after 2018)

ASIAN GAMES 2018 – GOLD MEDAL 🥇

• Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
• Throw: 88.06m (then national record)
• First major international gold

WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 2016 – GOLD 🥇

• Location: Bydgoszcz, Poland
• Throw: 86.48m
• WORLD U20 RECORD (still standing as of 2026)
• First Indian to win World Junior Championships gold
• First Indian to set a world record in athletics

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2022 – GOLD 🥇

• Location: Birmingham, England
• Throw: 88.13m

DIAMOND LEAGUE CHAMPION 2022 💎

• Won Diamond League title
• First Indian athletics Diamond League champion

Personal Bests & Records

Neeraj Chopra’s Top 5 Throws:

1. 89.94m – Stockholm Diamond League (June 2022) – National Record
2. 89.49m – Lausanne Diamond League (August 2024)
3. 89.45m – Paris 2024 Olympics (August 2024)
4. 89.34m – Paris 2024 Olympics Qualification (August 2024)
5. 89.30m – Paavo Nurmi Games, Finland (June 2022)

Indian National Record: 89.94m (June 2022, Stockholm)

Career Statistics:

• Consecutive Top-2 Finishes: 26 tournaments (June 2021 – September 2025)
  • Second-longest streak in javelin history (after Jan Železný)

Awards & Honors

• Khel Ratna Award: 2021 (for Tokyo Olympics gold)
• Arjuna Award: 2018
• Padma Shri: 2022
• Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM): 2023 (military honor)
• Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM): 2020 (military honor)
• Track & Field News: Best Javelin Thrower 2024

Current Coach: Jan Železný (Czech Republic)

• World Record Holder: 98.48m
• Previous Coach: Klaus Bartonietz (Germany, 2021-2024)

AVINASH SABLE – STEEPLECHASE SENSATION

Personal Information

• Full Name: Avinash Mukund Sable
• Born: September 13, 1994 (Age: 31)
• Birthplace: Mandva village, Beed district, Maharashtra
• Event: 3000m Steeplechase (primary), 5000m
• Background: Indian Army (Mahar Regiment)
  • Posted at Siachen Glacier, Rajasthan deserts, Sikkim
• Humble Origins: Worked in brick kilns, ran 6km to school daily

Major Achievements

ASIAN GAMES 2023 – GOLD MEDAL 🥇

• Location: Hangzhou, China
• Time: 8:19.53 (Asian Games Record)
• Significance:
  • India’s FIRST-EVER Asian Games gold in steeplechase
  • Beat 4-year-old Asian Games record by 3+ seconds
• Also Won: Silver in 5000m (13:21.09)

ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2025 – GOLD 🥇

• Location: Gumi, South Korea
• Time: 8:20.92
• Significance:
  • First Indian man to win AAC steeplechase gold in 36 years
  • Dominant performance

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2022 – SILVER 🥈

• Location: Birmingham, England
• Time: 8:11.20 (Indian National Record)
• Significance:
  • First non-Kenyan to medal in CWG steeplechase since 1994
  • Only 0.05s behind gold medalist
  • India’s first-ever CWG steeplechase medal

PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

• Result: 11th in final
• Qualification: 5th in heat (8:15.43)
• Significance:
  • First Indian to qualify for Olympic steeplechase final
  • Historic achievement despite no medal

ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019 – SILVER 🥈

• Debut international competition
• Time: 8:30.19

National Records (Multiple)

3000m Steeplechase:

• Current NR: 8:09.91 (Paris Diamond League 2024)
• 10th time breaking his own national record
• Previous NR: 8:11.20 (CWG 2022)

5000m:

• National record holder (later broken by Gulveer Singh in 2024: 13:18.92)

Half Marathon:

• National Record: 1:00:30 (Delhi Half Marathon 2020)
• Only Indian to finish half marathon under 61 minutes

Journey & Background

• Started running: 2015 (age 21, joined army)
• Lost 15kg after injury to make comeback
• Coach: Amrish Kumar (Indian Army)
• Breakthrough: 2018 – broke 37-year-old national record
  • Previous record: 8:30.88 by Gopal Saini (1981)

Awards

• Arjuna Award: 2023 (announced with 2024 batch)
• Recognition for consistent performances

MURALI SREESHANKAR – LONG JUMP STAR

Personal Information

• Full Name: Murali Sreeshankar
• Born: 1999
• Event: Long Jump
• From: Kerala

Major Achievements

ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023 – SILVER 🥈

• Location: Bangkok, Thailand
• Jump: 8.37m
• Significance:
  • Best jump outside India
  • Qualified for Paris 2024 Olympics with this performance

ASIAN GAMES 2023 – SILVER 🥈

• Location: Hangzhou, China
• Jump: 8.19m
• Another podium finish at continental level

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2022 – SILVER 🥈

• Location: Birmingham, England
• Consistent medal winner

PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

• Participated in long jump
• Represented India on biggest stage

Personal Best

• 8.42m (Indian National Record – 2023)
• National record holder
• Ranks #2 in 2023’s global top jumps list

Significance

• First Indian long jumper to podium at Diamond League
• Rising star in Indian athletics
• Consistent performer at major championships

JYOTHI YARRAJI – HURDLES QUEEN

Personal Information

• Event: 100m Hurdles (primary), 200m
• National Record: 12.82s (100m hurdles)

Major Achievements

ASIAN GAMES 2023 – SILVER 🥈

• Event: 100m Hurdles
• Originally: Bronze, upgraded to silver after DQ
• Significance: India’s best performance in hurdles

ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023

• Gold: 100m Hurdles (13.0s)
• Silver: 200m (23.13s – personal best)
• Significance:
  • Rain-soaked gold medal performance
  • Double medal winner

Consistency

• Sub-13s runs: 6 times in 2023 season
• Historic: No Indian woman had ever run under 13s before
• Jyothi has done it 6 times
• Epitome of consistency

Awards

• Arjuna Award: 2023

OTHER NOTABLE INDIAN ATHLETES

PARUL CHAUDHARY

• Events: 3000m Steeplechase, 5000m
• Asian Games 2023:
  • Silver: 3000m Steeplechase
  • Silver: 5000m
  • Double silver medalist
• Arjuna Award: 2023

ANNU RANI

• Event: Javelin Throw (Women)
• Asian Games 2023: Bronze medal
• National Record Holder in women’s javelin
• Arjuna Award: 2023

TAJINDERPAL SINGH TOOR

• Event: Shot Put
• Asian Games 2023: Gold medal
• Asian Championships: Defended title
• Top Indian shot putter

JESWIN ALDRIN

• Event: Long Jump
• National Record: 8.42m (2023)
• Rising talent alongside Sreeshankar

ELDHOSE PAUL & ABDULLA ABOOBACKER

• Event: Triple Jump
• CWG 2022:
  • Eldhose Paul: Gold (17.03m)
  • Abdulla Aboobacker: Silver
• Historic: India’s first CWG 1-2 finish in athletics
• Both received Arjuna Award 2022

PT USHA (“Payyoli Express”)

• Career: 1979-1985 (retired)
• Event: Sprint & Hurdles
• Best: 4th place, 400m hurdles, 1984 Los Angeles Olympics
  • Missed bronze by 1/100th of a second
• Asian Games: Multiple gold medals
• Current Role: IOA President (first woman, 2022)
• Legacy: India’s greatest female sprinter

MILKHA SINGH (“Flying Sikh”) (1929-2021)

• Career: 1958-1964
• Event: 400m
• Best: 4th place, 400m, 1960 Rome Olympics
• Asian Games: 4 gold medals (1958, 1962)
• Legacy: National icon, inspiration for “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag” film
• Passed away: June 2021 (COVID-19)

HIMA DAS (“Dhing Express”)

• Born: 2000, Assam
• Event: 400m
• Achievement: World U20 Championships 2018 gold (400m)
  • First Indian track athlete to win World Championships gold
• Asian Games: Multiple medals
• Arjuna Award: 2018

INDIAN ATHLETICS AT PARIS 2024 OLYMPICS

Medal Winners:

1. Neeraj Chopra: Silver (Javelin – 89.45m)

Other Participants:

• Avinash Sable: 11th in 3000m steeplechase final (historic final berth)
• Murali Sreeshankar: Long jump
• Jyothi Yarraji: 100m hurdles (did not medal)
• Annu Rani: Javelin throw
• Parul Chaudhary: Steeplechase

Total Indian Athletes in Athletics: 28 qualified Best Performance: Neeraj’s silver

MAJOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Frequency: Every 2 years (odd years)
• Governing Body: World Athletics
• India’s Best:
  • Gold: Neeraj Chopra (2023 Budapest)
  • Silver: Neeraj Chopra (2022 Eugene)

ASIAN GAMES (ATHLETICS)

• Most Successful: China, India rising
• 2023 Hangzhou:
  • India won 12 medals in athletics (2 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze)
  • Best performers: Avinash Sable, Neeraj Chopra, Jyothi Yarraji

ASIAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Most Recent: 2023 Bangkok, Thailand
• India’s Performance:
  • 27 medals (6 gold, 12 silver, 9 bronze)
  • Best Indian performance ever (after 2017)

DIAMOND LEAGUE

• Format: Global circuit of 14-15 meets
• Winner: Gets Diamond Trophy
• India’s Achievement:
  • Neeraj Chopra: 2022 champion (first Indian)

INDIAN ATHLETICS RECORDS (SELECTED)

MEN’S RECORDS

Sprints:

• 100m: Amiya Kumar Mallick (10.26s, 2016)
• 200m: Amiya Kumar Mallick (20.63s, 2016)
• 400m: Muhammed Anas Yahiya (45.21s, 2019)

Middle & Long Distance:

• 800m: Jinson Johnson (1:45.65, 2018)
• 1500m: Jinson Johnson (3:35.24, 2018)
• 5000m: Gulveer Singh (13:18.92, 2024)
• 3000m Steeplechase: Avinash Sable (8:09.91, 2024)

Throws:

• Javelin: Neeraj Chopra (89.94m, 2022)
• Shot Put: Tajinderpal Singh Toor (21.77m, 2023)
• Discus: Vikas Gowda (66.28m, 2012)

Jumps:

• Long Jump: Jeswin Aldrin (8.42m, 2023)
• Triple Jump: Eldhose Paul (17.03m, 2022)
• High Jump: Tejaswin Shankar (2.29m, 2022)

WOMEN’S RECORDS

Sprints:

• 100m: Dutee Chand (11.17s, 2019)
• 200m: Hima Das (23.10s, 2018)
• 400m: Hima Das (50.79s, 2018)

Hurdles:

• 100m Hurdles: Jyothi Yarraji (12.82s, 2023)

Throws:

• Javelin: Annu Rani (63.82m, 2021)
• Discus: Krishna Poonia (64.76m, 2012)

Jumps:

• Long Jump: Anju Bobby George (6.83m, 2004)
  • Also won World Championships bronze 2003 (first Indian athletics World Championships medal)
• High Jump: Sahana Kumari (1.96m, 2019)

INDIAN ATHLETICS – KEY FACTS

Historic Moments:

1. Norman Pritchard (1900): First Olympic medals (2 silver in 200m, 200m hurdles)
   • Competed for British India at Paris 1900
2. Milkha Singh (1960): 4th in 400m, Rome Olympics (missed bronze by 0.1s)
3. PT Usha (1984): 4th in 400m hurdles, LA Olympics (missed bronze by 0.01s)
4. Anju Bobby George (2003): Bronze at World Championships (long jump)
   • First Indian World Championships medal in athletics
5. Neeraj Chopra (2020): GOLD at Tokyo Olympics
   • First Olympic athletics gold for India
6. Neeraj Chopra (2023): GOLD at World Championships
   • First World Championships gold

Growth of Indian Athletics:

• Infrastructure: SAI centers, better coaching
• Foreign Coaches: Klaus Bartonietz, Jan Železný, Craig Fulton
• Funding: TOPS scheme supporting athletes
• Diamond League participation: Increasing exposure
• Asian dominance: Rising medals at Asian Games, Asian Championships

PRACTICE QUESTIONS – DAY 11

Section A: Fill in the Blanks (25 Questions)

1. Neeraj Chopra won India’s first Olympic gold in athletics at _____ Olympics.
2. Neeraj Chopra’s throw that won gold at Tokyo 2020 was _____ meters.
3. Neeraj Chopra won _____ medal at Paris 2024 Olympics.
4. Neeraj Chopra’s personal best and Indian national record is _____ meters.
5. Neeraj Chopra won gold at _____ World Championships in 2023.
6. Neeraj Chopra is the first _____ to win Olympic javelin gold.
7. Neeraj Chopra’s current coach is _____, a world record holder.
8. Neeraj Chopra won the _____ Award in 2021 for his Olympic performance.
9. Avinash Sable specializes in _____ steeplechase.
10. Avinash Sable won _____ medal at Asian Games 2023.
11. Avinash Sable’s Indian national record in steeplechase is _____ seconds.
12. Avinash Sable is from _____ (state).
13. Murali Sreeshankar is a _____ jumper.
14. Murali Sreeshankar’s personal best is _____ meters.
15. Jyothi Yarraji specializes in _____ meter hurdles.
16. Jyothi Yarraji’s national record is _____ seconds.
17. Neeraj Chopra was defeated by _____ of Pakistan at Paris 2024.
18. PT Usha missed Olympic bronze in 1984 by _____ of a second.
19. PT Usha is currently the _____ of IOA.
20. Milkha Singh was known as “_____”.
21. Hima Das won gold at World U20 Championships in _____ (year).
22. Anju Bobby George won bronze at 2003 World Championships in _____ (event).
23. Tajinderpal Singh Toor won gold at Asian Games 2023 in _____ (event).
24. Avinash Sable became the first Indian to qualify for Olympic _____ final at Paris 2024.
25. Neeraj Chopra set the World U20 record of _____ meters in 2016.

Section B: Multiple Choice (30 Questions)

1. In which Olympics did Neeraj Chopra win gold? a) Rio 2016 b) Tokyo 2020 c) Paris 2024 d) Beijing 2008
2. What was Neeraj Chopra’s winning throw at Tokyo 2020? a) 86.58m b) 87.58m c) 88.58m d) 89.58m
3. Which medal did Neeraj Chopra win at Paris 2024? a) Gold b) Silver c) Bronze d) Did not medal
4. Neeraj Chopra’s Indian national record is: a) 88.94m b) 89.34m c) 89.94m d) 90.94m
5. Neeraj Chopra won World Championships gold in: a) 2021 b) 2022 c) 2023 d) 2024
6. Neeraj Chopra is the first Asian to win: a) Olympic silver in javelin b) Olympic gold in javelin c) World Championships in any event d) Asian Games in javelin
7. Who is Neeraj Chopra’s current coach? a) Klaus Bartonietz b) Jan Železný c) Uwe Hohn d) Andreas Thorkildsen
8. Which award did Neeraj Chopra receive in 2021? a) Arjuna b) Khel Ratna c) Padma Shri d) Padma Bhushan
9. Avinash Sable specializes in: a) 1500m b) 5000m c) 3000m steeplechase d) Marathon
10. Which medal did Avinash Sable win at Asian Games 2023? a) Silver b) Bronze c) Gold d) Did not medal
11. Avinash Sable’s national record in steeplechase is: a) 8:09.91 b) 8:11.20 c) 8:15.43 d) 8:19.53
12. Avinash Sable is from which state? a) Punjab b) Haryana c) Maharashtra d) Kerala
13. Murali Sreeshankar competes in: a) High jump b) Long jump c) Triple jump d) Pole vault
14. Murali Sreeshankar’s personal best is: a) 8.19m b) 8.37m c) 8.42m d) 8.50m
15. Jyothi Yarraji specializes in: a) 100m b) 100m hurdles c) 200m hurdles d) 400m hurdles
16. Jyothi Yarraji’s national record is: a) 12.42s b) 12.62s c) 12.82s d) 13.02s
17. Who defeated Neeraj Chopra at Paris 2024? a) Johannes Vetter b) Arshad Nadeem c) Anderson Peters d) Julian Weber
18. PT Usha missed Olympic bronze by how much in 1984? a) 0.001s b) 0.01s c) 0.1s d) 1s
19. PT Usha is currently: a) AFI President b) IOA President c) SAI Director d) Coach
20. Milkha Singh was known as: a) Flying Indian b) Flying Sikh c) Golden Boy d) Sprint King
21. Hima Das won World U20 Championships gold in: a) 2016 b) 2017 c) 2018 d) 2019
22. Anju Bobby George won World Championships bronze in: a) Long jump b) Triple jump c) High jump d) Heptathlon
23. Tajinderpal Singh Toor competes in: a) Discus b) Hammer c) Shot put d) Javelin
24. Avinash Sable was the first Indian to: a) Win Asian Games steeplechase b) Qualify for Olympic steeplechase final c) Both a and b d) None
25. Neeraj Chopra’s World U20 record is: a) 84.48m b) 85.48m c) 86.48m d) 87.48m
26. Which Diamond League did Neeraj win in 2022? a) Overall title b) Stockholm c) Doha d) Lausanne
27. How many times has Avinash Sable broken the steeplechase national record? a) 5 b) 7 c) 10 d) 12
28. Eldhose Paul won CWG 2022 gold in: a) Long jump b) Triple jump c) High jump d) Shot put
29. Who received Arjuna Award in 2023 for 3000m steeplechase? a) Avinash Sable b) Parul Chaudhary c) Both d) Neither
30. India won how many athletics medals at Asian Games 2023? a) 8 b) 10 c) 12 d) 15

(Answers provided at end of Week 2 notes)

MEMORIZATION CHECKLIST – DAY 11 ✓

CRITICAL (100% Exam Probability):

• [ ] Neeraj Chopra: Tokyo 2020 gold (87.58m), Paris 2024 silver (89.45m)
• [ ] Neeraj: First Olympic athletics gold for India, first Asian javelin gold
• [ ] Neeraj: World Championships 2023 gold (first Asian), 2022 silver
• [ ] Neeraj: National record 89.94m, World U20 record 86.48m
• [ ] Neeraj: Current coach Jan Železný, Khel Ratna 2021
• [ ] Avinash Sable: Asian Games 2023 gold (steeplechase), national record 8:09.91
• [ ] Avinash Sable: CWG 2022 silver, first Indian to qualify for Olympic steeplechase final
• [ ] Murali Sreeshankar: Long jump, PB 8.42m, Asian championships silver
• [ ] Jyothi Yarraji: 100m hurdles, NR 12.82s, Asian Games silver

HIGH PRIORITY:

• [ ] PT Usha: IOA President, 4th in 1984 Olympics (missed bronze by 0.01s)
• [ ] Milkha Singh: “Flying Sikh”, 4th in 1960 Olympics
• [ ] Hima Das: World U20 Championships 2018 gold (400m)
• [ ] Anju Bobby George: 2003 World Championships bronze (long jump)
• [ ] Tajinderpal Singh Toor: Asian Games 2023 gold (shot put)
• [ ] Parul Chaudhary: Asian Games 2023 double silver (steeplechase, 5000m)

QUICK FACTS SUMMARY

🥇 Olympic Gold: Neeraj Chopra Tokyo 2020 (87.58m) – First athletics gold 🥈 Olympic Silver: Neeraj Chopra Paris 2024 (89.45m) – 2nd Indian with 2 athletics medals 🌍 World Champ: Neeraj Chopra 2023 (first Asian javelin gold) 🏃 Steeplechase: Avinash Sable (8:09.91 NR, Asian Games 2023 gold) 🦘 Long Jump: Murali Sreeshankar (8.42m NR) 🏃‍♀️ Hurdles: Jyothi Yarraji (12.82s NR) ⭐ Legends: PT Usha (IOA President), Milkha Singh (Flying Sikh) 📊 Records: Multiple national records broken in last 5 years

End of Day 11 Notes Next: Day 12 – Badminton & Tennis (PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Indian tennis) Week 2 Progress: 4 days complete, 3 more to go!