Did Neeraj Chopra Take A Dig At 'Popular' Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni Before Paris Olympics 2024?
Neeraj Chopra (L) won Silver medal at Paris Olympics 2024 (X.com)
India’s best javelin thrower and easily the country’s best athlete across sports, Neeraj Chopra, won a silver medal in the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday.
In the process, the 26-year-old became the second male athlete from India since the country gained independence to win two Olympic medals in an individual event.
Before he was set for Paris earlier this month, Neeraj was asked about his opinions regarding the outrageous popularity he gained since winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020. He was, in fact, was directly compared to Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni—two of the stalwarts of Indian cricket—when one of the reporters asked him the question.
However, Neeraj kept himself calm, humble, and shut down all the claims.
Neeraj Chopra Rubbishes Kohli, Dhoni Comparisions
"At the Doha Diamond League, I was asked how popular I was in India. I never tried to compare myself with the likes of Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni because I'm very well aware of the reality of what I am in India," Neeraj said, as quoted by Times Of India.
"Yes, obviously, after the Olympics, people recognize me a lot more, but I know there is a stark difference in my popularity compared to that of a cricketer. Cricket is played in every single alley in the country. It's not like people practise javelin throw in the same way," the javelin ace added.
In the Paris Olympics final, Neeraj lost to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who set a world record with a monstrous 92.97 metre throw.
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