In a lineup of India’s sporting heroes, most of whom have gained celebrity status through cricket, Neeraj Chopra stands out as an anomaly. The champion javelin thrower has minimal experience in cricket, focusing solely on perfecting his javelin throwing skills since childhood. Despite this, Chopra acknowledges the similarities between his discipline and India's favorite sport.
Chopra highlighted the significance of having a fast arm in both cricket and javelin throwing, emphasizing that a quick arm motion is crucial for achieving great distances in javelin throws. While cricket enjoys immense popularity in India, with over 125 million fans, Chopra has garnered a substantial following due to his exceptional talent in javelin throwing.
Chopra's reputation has soared with each triumph. Following his historic Olympic gold win in Tokyo, where he became the first Asian javelin thrower to achieve this feat, Chopra further solidified his status by clinching the world championship title in Budapest last year, marking the first time an Indian athlete secured a world title in a track and field event.
Recently, Chopra effortlessly advanced to the men's javelin final after an impressive performance in the qualification round. His popularity is so immense that August 7 has been designated as National Javelin Day in India, commemorating the anniversary of Chopra's Olympic gold victory in Tokyo.
If Chopra secures a second Olympic gold medal, the journalist who authored a book on him predicts that he will be revered like a deity in India, underscoring the profound impact of his achievements on the nation.
