Neeraj Chopra, India’s celebrated athlete who captured the nation’s heart with his golden performance at the 2020 Olympic Summer Games, made history once again in Budapest. On Monday, he secured India’s first-ever gold medal in the World Athletics Championships, triumphing over his arch-rival from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem. This remarkable achievement added to his accolades, as he had previously clinched a silver medal at the World Championships last year.
The 25-year-old Neeraj Chopra is also earning accolades for his deeply patriotic gesture. Following his victory in the men’s javelin throw, a Hungarian fan approached him with an Indian flag, requesting his signature. However, Chopra respectfully declined, stating, “Sorry Mam, it is a violation of my flag code, cannot sign it.”
This is Neeraj Chopra, Olympic Gold Medalist.
After winning the #WorldAthleticsChamps in Budapest yesterday, A hungarian fan came to him with an Indian flag and asked him to sign it for her.
Subedar Neeraj Chopra humbly denied and said “ Sorry Mam, it is a violation of my flag… pic.twitter.com/mc7afI6h4e
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) August 28, 2023
In an act of goodwill, Chopra chose to sign the fan’s T-shirt sleeve instead. Journalist Jonathan Selvaraj shared this heartwarming incident on social media. The post, which features a picture of Neeraj Chopra signing the fan’s T-shirt with the Tricolour, quickly went viral, garnering 1 million views, 20.3K likes, and 2,012 reposts.
Social media users were quick to applaud Chopra for his refusal to sign the flag due to his commitment to the flag code. Many expressed their admiration for his actions:
“An incredible athlete and an honest, patriotic citizen. A great role model for all Indians! Respect.” – A user comment.
“Wow! What an amazing gesture by #NeerajChopra! He is truly an inspiration to us all. His humility and respect for the Indian flag are commendable.” – Another user comment.
“The man with a golden arm and heart!” – A user comment.
Neeraj Chopra’s accomplishments extend beyond this victory. In addition to his Tokyo Olympics gold medal, he has secured gold medals in the Asian Games (2018) and Commonwealth Games (2018). His achievements also encompass four individual Diamond League Meeting titles (two each in 2022 and 2023) and the Diamond League champion’s trophy in the previous year. With his latest triumph, Chopra has earned the complete set of global medals, including the Olympic Gold medal, the Diamond Trophy, and the World Championships Gold medal.
