Neeraj Chopra eternally marked his name in history as the first Indian track and field athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics. This incredible feat made him the second Indian ever to finish in the top spot at any Olympic event.
His record-breaking throw of 87.58 metres not only got him at the top spot in Tokyo Olympics but also in the hearts of 1.3 billion people in India, as he earned the Golden Boy title.
But the 23-year-old had another victory that day. Through his win, he also materialised the dream of the legendary Milkha Singh, who desired for an Indian track athlete to bag an Olympics gold medal.
So, without further ado, let’s get to know more about the fantastic and awe-inspiring sportsman and athlete Neeraj Chopra, along with his various achievements, endorsements and some rare facts about him and his village.
Table of contents
From a Chubby Kid to a Glorious Olympic Champion
It is no surprise that Neeraj Chopra was one of the fittest representatives in the Tokyo Olympics, but that was not always the case.
He wasn’t the fastest or fittest kid around when he initially started his journey. In fact, the 11-year-old Neeraj was a chubby little boy oblivious of the fact that only a decade later, he would change the course of history.
His parents insisted that he join a gym in Panipat, which was almost 20kms away from where he stayed, i.e. Khandra village.
During this period, he would regularly stop by the Shivaji Stadium on his way to the gym and witness various athletes practising. Initially, he tried quite a few sports, such as running, but he chose Javelin as his professional discipline after meeting Jaiveer, who was already a pro-Javelin thrower.
Thus, the 11-year-old kid who was forced to go to the gym by his parents had finally found his calling with suggestions and training from a seasoned mentor, and the legendary journey began.
Khandra: Where it All Started
Apart from his glorious and spellbinding Olympic win, what amazes the nation the most about our Golden Boy is the village he is from and the simple life he might have led there. Khandra is the reflection of Neeraj Chopra’s struggles to become the greatest.
Spread across 678 hectares of land, Khandra is one of the remotest villages in India, comprising only 500 families and the most basic of amenities. There is no gym, no stadium or even a playground. In fact, the nearest railway station is 15 kms away. The only active transport facility is the local bus service.
Neeraj’s life in his village delivers the strong message of “No excuses” to the youth of the nation. And, we are sure he followed this same mantra too. The huge victory that made him the invaluable Golden Boy of the nation has also put Khandra under the spotlight.
With the consistent media attention, it can only be hoped that the village elevates from its present condition and develops further so that more youth can come forward to make India proud.
Rewards and Endorsement Deals for Neeraj Chopra
The rewards and endorsement deals have kept flowing ever since Neeraj Chopra bagged his historic gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics. Some of the prominent names that were the first to be associated with the athlete were TATA AIA Life Insurance and Byju’s.
As per reports, the sports agency representing the athlete has more endorsement deals lined up with various brands, including designer apparel and luxury automobiles.
Currently, Neeraj Chopra has active endorsement deals with giants of the sporting world like Gatorade, MuscleBlaze, and Nike. It is speculated that these brands are offering the champion up to 10 times the usual amount because of the Olympics win. Further, the representatives of JSW sports have stated that the athlete has received requests from over 80 brands.
Apart from all these endorsement deals, Neeraj has also been the recipient of prestigious monetary rewards and warm accolades from the government as well as multinational companies. Some of the rewards he has received are as follows:
- The State Government of Haryana has announced a cash prize of Rs. 6 crores along with an assured class 1 category government job.
- The Government of Punjab announced a further Rs. 2 crore cash prize.
- BCCI awarded a cash prize of Rs. 1 crore.
- The Cabinet Ministry of Manipur sanctioned a Rs. 1 crore cash prize for the gold medalist.
- The IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings have immortalised the medal winner by creating a special jersey with the number 8758.
- The Chairman of Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra, has also presented the medal winner with an XUV 700 as a gift.
Neeraj Chopra Net Worth, Salary, Property
India’s track and field champion cemented his place in the history of Indian sports after his marvellous win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. After his victory, the athlete is said to have a net worth of ₹ 37.17 crores. His current salary as an Indian track and field athlete is estimated to be ₹ 4 crores per year. This salary doesn’t include the cash prices from his various accolades.
Neeraj Chopra also has several brand deals with Nike, Sportz, Procter and Gamble, Mobil India, TATA AIA Insurance and JSW Sports, which sponsors him for tournaments, among other brands.
Neeraj Chopra resides in a three-story home in Khandra, Haryana, only about 16 km from Panipat. Neeraj Chopra has a stunning collection of vehicles, including a Mahindra XUV 700 that Anand Mahindra, the chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra, gave him as a gift. The Ford Mustang GT, Range Rover Sport, Toyota Fortuner, and Mahindra Thar are the other vehicles owned by the Indian track and field athlete.
Neeraj Chopra’s Personal Best Over the Years
Neeraj Chopra rightfully wears the crown of one of the country’s most celebrated track and field athletes. He has made the country proud with his various gold and silver medals. A table showing his wins is given below.
| Year | Date | Performance | Place |
| 2013 | July 26 | 69.66 metres | Patiala, India |
| 2014 | August 17 | 70.19 metres | |
| 2015 | December 31 | 81.04 metres | |
| 2016 | July 23 | 86.48 metres | Bydgoszcz, Poland |
| 2017 | June 2 | 85.63 metres | Patiala, India |
| 2018 | August 27 | 88.06 metres | Jakarta, Indonesia |
| 2020 | January 28 | 87.86 meters | South Africa |
| 2021 | March 5 | 88.07 metres | Patiala, India |
| 2022 | June 30 | 89.94 metres | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2023 | August 27 | 88.17 metres | Budapest, Hungary |
Rare Facts About Neeraj Chopra
Till now, we didn’t have much information about Neeraj Chopra apart from who he is and where he hails from. However, here are some rare and interesting facts on the genius athlete that you would be surprised to know.
- Neeraj grew up as the eldest child in a joint family of 17 members.
- Apart from being one of India’s best track athletes, Neeraj also holds the post of Junior Commissioned Officer in the Indian Army.
- Before the gold medalist ever picked up a javelin, he had an undying love for volleyball and cricket.
- In 2012, Neeraj set the national record for under-16 National Junior Championships, securing the gold medal in the process.
- In 2016, Neeraj won the gold medal in the Junior World Championship while setting a new world record of 86.48 metres. Chopra also set a new national record in the South Asian Games by throwing an astonishing 82.23 metres in the first half of the same year.
- In 2018, Neeraj broke the national record again with an attempt of 87.43 metres at the Doha Diamond League.
- Breaking records seems to be the norm for this guy. In 2018, he bettered his own record with a massive attempt of 88.06 metres at the Asian Games.
- In 2018, he became the first and only track athlete to be nominated for the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award.
In a Nutshell
Neeraj Chopra’s incredible story is a testimony to the fact that no matter the situation or circumstance, one can always conquer them if one has the zeal and passion for it. In the end, it is not about the rags to riches story that matters but what makes a person accomplish his capabilities and make an entire nation proud.
Latest News: Neeraj Chopra Wins Gold At World Athletics Championships
Neeraj Chopra made the country proud again by bagging the gold medal in the Worlds Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary. He competed in the World Athletics Championship for Men’s Javelin Throw Final and overtook runner-ups Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan and Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic. Neeraj Chopra achieved a score of 88.17 metres, which is one of the highest scores for him. His best score was 89.94 metres in Stockholm, Sweden.
