"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," is the message Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has for India’s young athletes.
Neeraj was speaking at a felicitation function held for the country’s Olympic athletes on Monday as they arrived in Delhi from Tokyo.
The Indian Army Subedar’s only message for the country's sportspersons “is never fear.”
Talking about his gold winning throw at the Tokyo Games, the 23-year-old Neeraj said, "I knew I had done something special, actually I thought I had achieved my personal best. The throw had gone really well."
"The next day my body felt how special it was with all the pain but it was worth it. This medal is for the entire country," he said.
Neeraj Chopra is India’s first ever athlete to win a gold medal in a track and field event.
Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Anurag Thakur felicitated the seven medalists: Neeraj Chopra, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, Mirabai Chanu, PV Sindhu, Bajrang Punia, Lovlina Borgohain and the men’s national Hockey team, at a gala felicitation program at the government-owned Ashoka Hotel in New Delhi on Monday.
The Sports Minister Thakur said, “Tokyo 2020 was an Olympic Games of many firsts for India. The success of Team India at the Olympics is a reflection of how New India desires and aspires to dominate the world…even in sports. The Olympic Games showed us that with self-discipline and dedication we can be champions. Team India excelled and inspired while Indians cheered and celebrated all around. Truly sports is a great unifier as our athletes come from villages and cities, north to south, from east to west. Their journey is an incredible story of resilience and sporting excellence.”
Among those present on the occasion to felicitate the Olympic medal winners included Union Minister of Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Nisith Pramanik, Secretary Sports Ravi Mittal and Director-General, Sports Authority of India Sandip Pradhan.
