<p>Neeraj Chopra became the toast of the medal-starving nation on Saturday after clinching India's first ever gold medal in athletics, track and field to be precise. His path-breaking 87.58 throw at Tokyo Games also gave Bengle a nondescript village in Sirsi taluk, Uttara Kannada, a reason to rejoice.</p>.<p>Yes, Kashinath Naik, a native of Bengle, was among the formative year coaches for the golden boy Neeraj Chopra</p>.<p>Naik spotted young Neeraj's talent in Javelin and trained him for three years from 2015 to 2017 at the Indian Army facility at Patiala.</p>.<p>Coach Naik, himself a bronze medal winner in Javelin at 2010 Commonwealth Games, shared with <em>DH</em> his joy over his ward's Olympic success, training stint at Patiala and Chopra's gold medal winning throw at Tokyo.</p>.<p>"Neeraj Chopra has done India proud with a historic gold medal in track and field event. I take pride in the fact that I was his coach in his formative years. I polished his techniques of the grip, the run-up and the throw at Patiala," a beaming Naik told <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span> over the telephone call.</p>.<p>"Two months before leaving for Tokyo, Neeraj had visited me at Army Sports Institute in Pune. He had asked me for a few tips. Chopra also had a brief and fruitful training stint in Sweden ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. I knew he would finish on podium after qualifying for final. I am happy that he ended India's Olympic medal drought in athletics," Kashinath Naik said.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>
<p>Neeraj Chopra became the toast of the medal-starving nation on Saturday after clinching India's first ever gold medal in athletics, track and field to be precise. His path-breaking 87.58 throw at Tokyo Games also gave Bengle a nondescript village in Sirsi taluk, Uttara Kannada, a reason to rejoice.</p>.<p>Yes, Kashinath Naik, a native of Bengle, was among the formative year coaches for the golden boy Neeraj Chopra</p>.<p>Naik spotted young Neeraj's talent in Javelin and trained him for three years from 2015 to 2017 at the Indian Army facility at Patiala.</p>.<p>Coach Naik, himself a bronze medal winner in Javelin at 2010 Commonwealth Games, shared with <em>DH</em> his joy over his ward's Olympic success, training stint at Patiala and Chopra's gold medal winning throw at Tokyo.</p>.<p>"Neeraj Chopra has done India proud with a historic gold medal in track and field event. I take pride in the fact that I was his coach in his formative years. I polished his techniques of the grip, the run-up and the throw at Patiala," a beaming Naik told <span class="italic"><em>DH</em></span> over the telephone call.</p>.<p>"Two months before leaving for Tokyo, Neeraj had visited me at Army Sports Institute in Pune. He had asked me for a few tips. Chopra also had a brief and fruitful training stint in Sweden ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. I knew he would finish on podium after qualifying for final. I am happy that he ended India's Olympic medal drought in athletics," Kashinath Naik said.</p>.<p><strong>Check out DH's latest videos:</strong></p>