How Neeraj Chopra’s homecoming unfolded at the Federation Cup: ‘Please hold on for a while. Let me meet them’ | Sport-others News

Even before Neeraj Chopra reached the throwing area of the practice ground at the Kalinga stadium his arm was warmed up. He shook hands with at least two dozen people during the 50-odd metre walk from the practice entry gate to the competition zone on Wednesday at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. Since there was strict barricading with security guards on their toes, the numbers were significantly fewer.
“I feel good that people greet me but I also understand you can’t have a lot of people at the training area,” Neeraj would say at the press meet after the men’s javelin throw final where he bagged the gold with an 82.27m throw. Let’s face it, the event wasn’t really about the competition but celebrating Neeraj’s first show on Indian soil after his Tokyo Olympics triumph three years ago. And rightly so.
“I felt that I could compete here, and it was nice. However, let’s not talk about the throw, it was not up to the mark. Yeh toh consent wali throw nahi hai (this one is not my consent type of throw),” Neeraj said.

This piture says it all. It was big day for Indian athletics. #Media interaction after @Neeraj_chopra1 won gold at 27th national federation senior athletics competition in #Bhubaneshwar.@Media_SAI @RECLindia pic.twitter.com/RV4YSf6YmF
— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) May 15, 2024
While 82m is not where he usually lands wherever he turns up in the last couple of seasons, one must spare a thought for Neeraj. Ever since landing in Bhubaneswar just days after his Diamond League competition in Doha, he hasn’t had much time to take a breather. Right after his press interaction, the officials wanted to whisk Neeraj away to avoid any commotion but the champion athlete made sure he stayed back to meet a few selfie requests.
“Please hold on for a while. Let me meet them. I have come here after a long time,” he told the senior official. Then there were official commitments from SAI, a NADA test before he again headed to the training ground. Not to cool down or stretch but to prepare for a long and tiring photoshoot for a major clothing brand which ended almost close to midnight.
Even though the organisers didn’t go all-out in promoting the event, enough spectators gathered at the stadium to catch a glimpse of Neeraj. Some even waited hours after the competitions outside the main stadium arena in the hopes of getting a selfie. The reigning world champion’s last event in India was also the Federation Cup, when he regered 87.80m in March 2021, a few months before going on to become the Olympic gold medall in Tokyo, creating hory for Indian sport as the first track and field champion at the Summer Games. Since then, Neeraj has largely competed at Diamond League meets and global events overseas.
“I work here and see a lot of athletes but our manager told us someone big has come. I don’t know much about Neeraj but I wanted to just have a look at him,” said a member of the stadium maintenance staff who took a break from work to watch Neeraj’s throws.
Despite the commotion around, which does not seem to bother Neeraj much now, he would take his time to greet fellow athletes. He even enquired about their timings and training plans. Neeraj is next slated to compete In Ostrava in the Czech Republic and then take part in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 18.
“The result here did not matter much as the most important one is the Paris Olympics,” he said. And when the 90m question finally arrived, Neeraj seemed more than prepared for the answer. “Winning Olympic Games gold is more glorious than breaking the 90m barrier.”
Neeraj began his season at Doha Diamond League last week, where he finished second with his final throw of 88.38m, currently his decorated career’s ninth-best mark. That’s the sort of level he’d be expected to be at as he goes to Ostrava for his next meet later this month.

But on the night when he made his homecoming, Neeraj was at his gracious best. At the medal ceremony, Neeraj got on to the top of the podium alongside DP Manu (82.06m) and Uttam Patil (78.39m). While the photos were being clicked, he could be heard shouting out to those who stayed back: “Sabhi athletes ko support karne ke liye, thank you!” (Thank you for supporting all the athletes).