Tokyo Olympics Felicitation Ceremony: Golden boy Neeraj Chopra’s big message, ‘Never fear the opposition’: Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Monday arrived back home to a rousing welcome after winning a gold medal at the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics. The 23-year-old Army man said the only message he has for the country’s sportspersons right now is never fear.
“I just want to say, no matter who the opposition is, give your best. That is all you need to do and this is what this gold medal stands for. Never fear the opposition,” he said.
Tokyo Olympics Felicitation Ceremony: Golden boy Neeraj Chopra’s big message, ‘Never fear the opposition’
#WATCH | This gold medal is not only mine but also belongs to India. I didn’t eat&sleep well after winning gold medal… Competition was very tough at #Olympics. After qualification, I realised this is the best opportunity of my life& I’ll not lose it: Gold medalist Neeraj Chopra pic.twitter.com/NzQVFqvjLx
— ANI (@ANI) August 9, 2021
Olympic gold-medallist Neeraj Chopra also revealed that he was in pain after his epoch-making performance in the Tokyo Games but it was all worth it given the historic result he had achieved.
At a felicitation ceremony by the government to honour the seven medal-winning performances at the Games after their arrival this evening, the javelin thrower said he knew he had done something special with the second attempt of 87.58m in the finals that fetched him the gold.
I knew I had done something special, actually I thought I had achieved my personal best. The throw had gone really well,” Chopra said.
“The next day my body felt how special it was with all the pain but it was worth it,” he quipped.
“This medal is for the entire country.”
Neeraj Chopra revealed that he has now set his sight on the 2022 Asian Games.
“I did my best and now I look forward to the Asian Games that will take place next year,” Chopra told ANI.
Chopra became not just India’s first Olympic gold-medallist in 13 years but also the first track and field athlete to achieve the feat.
He got his famously long mane chopped before the Games and when asked about it in lighter vein, the youngster said, “I like long hair but I was getting irritated by the heat, long hair causes lot of sweating. So I got a hair cut.”
Neeraj Chopra arrived back home to a thunderous and grand welcome. Neeraj had on Saturday won a gold medal and this was the first medal won by an Indian athlete in track and field in the Games.
Upon arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport here in New Delhi, Neeraj was swamped by supporters and they played dhols to give a thunderous response to the 23-year-old’s historic feat back in Tokyo. Neeraj somehow made his way from the crowd and quickly entered his car to leave the airport.
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India recorded its best-ever haul at the Olympics with seven medals (one gold, two silver, and four bronze). Neeraj (gold), Bajrang (bronze), Mirabai Chanu (silver), PV Sindhu (bronze), Lovlina Borgohain (bronze), men’s hockey team ( bronze), and Ravi Kumar Dahiya (silver) won medals in the Tokyo Games.
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