Athletics Editorial Olympic Sports Paris 2024

Neeraj Chopra deserves the ‘GOAT’ tag

August 10, 2024
S Kannan
Neeraj Chopra with his Silver medal
Neeraj Chopra with his Silver medal (PC: X)

S.Kannan in Paris

Watch Neeraj Chopra inside the javelin arena and away from it, the images are so different. As India’s greatest ever track and field star won a silver medal in the Paris Olympics on Thursday night at the Stade De France, it is clear he has touched heights which were unthinkable.

During the course of several conversations, what stands out is that Neeraj is still such a simple young man who has so much left in him, as a competitor. Even when he spoke of the “adductor” injury which has been bothering him for such a long time, he did not offer it as an excuse for not winning a gold medal again. By all yardsticks, for Neeraj to win a gold in the Tokyo Olympics and then come up with a silver in Paris is proof he has stayed at the top for more than three years.

“Just look at his consistency and how he has thrown more than two metres compared to Tokyo, Neeraj is a real gem,” said Adille Sumariwala, talking to this writer on Friday. The Athletics Federation of India President, who is also the Vice President of the World Athletics made it clear, Neeraj’s injury is nothing too serious. “He has two big meets (Diamond League) coming up. If he competes in just one and then takes a long break till next season, he will be fine,” Sumariwala added.

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A long break is what Neeraj needs to handle the “adductor” flare up, which is a natural thing given the body dynamics which come into play when he hurls the javelin. How Neeraj has kept such a major medical issue under wraps and still trained for Paris 2024 defines his greatness. Someone like PT Usha, who last competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics had faced a major issue called “plantar fasciitis” and could not do well after the highs at the 400m hurdles in the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.

Comparing champions from different eras may be wrong but the time has come when Neeraj Chopra can be given the tag of GOAT – Greatest Of All Time – in Indian athletics. On the field, when Neeraj is a competitor, he defines what it is to be a humble, yet a fierce competitor. More importantly, away from the arena, when he speaks to the media, the common man, friends and even those he does not know, Neeraj is a simpleton. He respects humans, including his foe in the javelin arena, Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, who won gold with a magical throw.

Neeraj never feels jealous when his rivals do better than him. Such respect for other athletes is important as it portrays him as someone who competes fair and square and still will accept it if they have performed better. The kind of love and affection Neeraj commands on social media is an indicator why he is the GOAT. Yes, there have been sensational stars from the past like Milkha Singh, Gurbachan Singh Randhawa, PT Usha and Anju Bobby George. Sadly, these legends did not win an Olympic medal.

They were from different eras, in the 60s, 80s and then 2004. Neeraj has peaked twice in two Olympics and in between also won medals of all hues in the World Championships, Diamond Leagues and even the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. If he can rest and recoup and manage this “adductor” injury, he will come back stronger in 2025. In 2026, the Asian Games will be held in Japan. So, can Neeraj go for more glory in another edition of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?  The answer is a “yes” as he knows how to preserve himself and has a wonderful team supporting him.

When he returns to India, there will be euphoria. The celebrations will be crazy. No Indian track and field star has achieved what Neeraj has in Tokyo and Paris, two back-to-back Olympics. The best part, he knows how to handle success and remain a simple man. Simplicity and being soft defines his greatness as a once-in-a-lifetime champion.

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