Is Neeraj Chopra the greatest Indian athlete ever? Is it premature to say so? Can he be compared to the likes of Abhinav Bindra, Sachin Tendulkar, PV Sindhu, Vishwanathan Anand, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Mary Kom or, even, Major Dhyan Chand? Is such a comparison fair?
His sheer consistency makes Neeraj a potential candidate for the mantle of the best. He has won gold at the Asian Games and the Olympics, has won silver at the World Championships, won multiple Diamond League titles and is expected to win many more. If he does win a second Olympic medal in Paris, will this debate be conclusively put to rest?
We at RevSportz had done a poll the day after he won the Diamond League in Lausanne. And while the poll generated fascinating reactions from fans, I did not expect Neeraj to react to it. It was around 11pm on the Sunday that he messaged. “Mujhe abhi bahut kuch karna hai [I have a lot to do],” he said. “Abhi to just maine start kiya hai [Right now, I’ve just started].”
Few from India have won even a third of what he has in their entire careers, and here he was saying that he hadn’t done much and that it was just the start. For me, it was reinforcement of why he is a once-in-a-generation athlete, and why he is different. The hunger and commitment set him apart, and perhaps that’s what has helped him stay rooted and humble. Neeraj is different, and that’s what makes him the best.
As the conversation went on, I asked him how he celebrated his Lausanne win. Lausanne is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, and a walk along Lake Geneva with the IOC HQ on one side and France on the other is one of the most fascinating things to do. The beauty is pristine, and the charm infectious. The food is excellent, and so is shopping. Geneva is just a 35-minute train ride, and during my many trips to Lausanne, a weekend trip to Geneva was a must.
“Main IOC museum ghumne chala gaya tha [I wandered around the IOC Museum],” said Neeraj. “Wahan pe zyada time lag gaya [That took a lot of time].” I was pleasantly surprised. While the IOC museum brings back very fond memories, I have had the privilege of researching in the museum archives for months and have also catalogued the Indian material there. To hear an elite athlete say he went to visit the museum and spent hours there was a real surprise. Few do so, and our two Olympic gold medallists have this one thing in common. “Abhinav ji se last year yahan pe mulakat huwa tha. Woh Diamond League dekhne bhi aaye the [I had Abhinav ji here last year. He had come to watch the Diamond League],” said Neeraj. Abhinav, who is a frequent visitor to Lausanne as part of his work with the IOC, has donated his Beijing 2008 Gold-medal winning Walther rifle to the museum. Neeraj too has followed in his footsteps, and donated his javelin from Tokyo.
Somewhere, these two champions turn into one. And that’s the best thing about the two of them. “Abhinav ji jab baat karte hain toh har baat socha hua hota jai. Main abhi seekh raha hoon [When Abhinav ji speaks, everything is thought out. I’m still learning],” said Neeraj. From that day in Tokyo when he had to do the press conference soon after winning the Olympic gold to now, Neeraj, as a speaker, has improved by a quantum mile. And yet, he wants to get better and follow Abhinav’s lead.
Respect. That’s the one word that defines their relationship. And that’s why Abhinav tweets each time Neeraj wins something big. And that’s why when these two champions meet, there is a tremendous sense of warmth and affection. The baton has passed from Abhinav to Neeraj, and both are aware of their responsibilities and what they stand for. Because of the two of them, Indian sport has a vastly better profile. They have enriched the domain, and by doing so, served as real inspiration for legions of sports fans in India and beyond.