Name the first Indian javelin thrower to win a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests awareness of a landmark achievement in Indian athletics. It focuses on the first time an Indian javelin thrower won a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, during the 2018 edition held in Gold Coast. Such milestones are very important in sports general knowledge and are frequently asked in competitive examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The event is javelin throw in athletics.
• The competition is the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
• The athlete is an Indian javelin thrower who won a gold medal.
• Four Indian sportspersons are listed as options.

Concept / Approach:
The concept here is simple factual recall about star Indian athletes and their firsts at major international events. Javelin throw was not historically a strong event for India at the Commonwealth Games. However, in 2018, a young Indian thrower delivered an outstanding performance that not only secured gold but also made headlines across the country. Knowing the profile and achievements of that athlete is the key to answering the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which of the options are actually javelin throwers.Step 2: Neeraj Chopra is well known as a javelin throw specialist and a major medal winner in this event.Step 3: Ankur Mittal is a shooter, primarily associated with double trap and shotgun events, not athletics.Step 4: Seema Antil and Annu Rani are throwers, but Seema is mainly a discus specialist, while Annu is a javelin thrower without the 2018 Commonwealth gold.Step 5: Records confirm that Neeraj Chopra won the mens javelin gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, making him the first Indian javelin thrower to do so.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can recall that Neeraj Chopra set a strong mark early in the final, leading the field throughout. His performance was widely covered in Indian media as a historic achievement for track and field. This result preceded his later global successes. Cross checking this with typical exam preparation materials for sports current affairs confirms that the correct answer is Neeraj Chopra.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, Ankur Mittal, is associated with shooting events and has no link to javelin gold at Commonwealth Games. Option C, Seema Antil, is a noted discus thrower and not the athlete in question. Option D, Annu Rani, is a leading Indian womens javelin thrower but did not win the landmark mens javelin gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Therefore, these options do not match the specific historic achievement described.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse different field events or mix mens and womens results when they read quickly. Another pitfall is to remember Neeraj Chopra mainly for later achievements and overlook that his Commonwealth Games gold was a key early milestone. Learners may also misidentify shooters or discus throwers as javelin specialists. To avoid such errors, associate Neeraj Chopra directly with javelin throw and remember that he secured the historic Commonwealth Games gold in 2018.

Final Answer:
Neeraj Chopra is the first Indian javelin thrower to win a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.