How A Pampered, Overweight Child Became India’s ‘Golden Boy’ - Neeraj Chopra

India’s Golden Boy has made us all proud by securing a silver medal for the country at Men’s Javelin Finals in the 2024 Olympics. The 26-year-old was catapulted to glory and fame after bagging Gold at his maiden Olympics in Tokyo (2021). But this is not the only time he has won laurels and accolades for the nation. He is also a proud recipient of several prestigious national awards. But, did you know that he wasn’t always like that? Neeraj struggled with childhood obesity and it was his parents’ love and support that helped him overcome this major hurdle. Read to know more about his childhood struggles and recent achievements. 

What Made Neeraj Fall In Love With Javelin?

Neeraj’s love affair with Javelin started when he was just 13. Born on December 24, 1997, in Panipat, Haryana, Neeraj was the eldest of three siblings and had a pampered childhood. However, during his formative years, Neeraj struggled with the challenges of being overweight. At the age of 11, he weighed more than 80 kgs, which concerned his parents, Satish Kumar (farmer) & Saroj Devi (homemaker), and eventually they enrolled him in a gym in a nearby town, Madlauda, for regular exercise, but Neeraj had no interest in exercising. His father once took him to the Shivaji Stadium in Panipat where he saw some javelin throwers practising. It was a love at first sight for Neeraj. Despite having no inclination towards sports, Neeraj felt drawn towards the sport, to the point that he started training. 

Neeraj’s training imposed a significant financial strain on his large family of nearly nineteen. His father, Satish Kumar, was determined to provide unwavering support. Despite limited resources, he prioritised Neeraj’s training and nutrition, ensuring no obstacle hindered his son's progress.

Neeraj Chopra Achievements:

• Neeraj is one of the most decorated athletes in India. 

• In 2016, he bagged the Silver medal at the Asian Junior Championships in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). In the same year, he won 2 Golds, 1 at the World Junior Championships in Bydgoszcz (Poland), and another at the South Asian Games in Guwahati/Shillong.

• In 2017 Neeraj secured Gold at the Asian Championships in Bhubaneshwar. 

• He won a Gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast in 2018. In the same year, he also bagged Gold at the Asian Championships, Bhubaneshwar.

• In 2020, he became the first Indian to win an Olympic medal in athletics by securing the Gold in Tokyo. 

• In 2022, he secured the first rank at the Diamond League in Stockholm and bagged a Silver at the World Championships, Eugene.

• In 2023, Neeraj won Gold at the World Championships in Budapest.   

In the finals, Neeraj won silver while Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan bagged the gold. A part of the credit for his success goes to his parents, for being so supportive and encouraging him despite financial hardships. What do you think?