Bhaisaab Neeraj Chopra, Paaji Sachin Tendulkar | Asian-games News

“Mujhe pata tha bhaisaab maar hi denge.” With that simple reverential quote, India’s latest javelin star, Asian Games silver medall Kishore Kumar Jena summed up the stature of the man one step above him on the podium – Neeraj Chopra.On the face of it, this was Jena telling the world that he knew that the gold medal wasn’t his even when he led briefly on that busy evening at Hangzhou. There was much more to the praise.
Neeraj is 25 and Jena 28. It is unusual to be called Bhaisaab someone three years older. The English language fails to do justice to the word Bhaisaab. It translates to brother but it doesn’t really mean that.

Brother, bro, bhai, have a ring of casualness. It’s an address best suited when in the company of equals. Bhaisaab has gravitas, it’s an honorific that isn’t just bestowed, it needs to be earned.
Back in the day, during cricket’s Fab Four era, the Indian dressing room had many stars, stalwarts and mentors. But there was only one Paaji – Sachin Tendulkar. Made popular the team’s young Punjab boys – Harbhajan Singh and Yuvraj Singh – the endearing title would stick. Regardless of their home state or mother tongue, those around Tendulkar would call him Paaji.
India’s Neeraj Chopra competes in the Men’s Javelin Throw Final event at the 19th Asian Games, in Hangzhou, China, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023. (PTI Photo)
The team’s respected elder would have the final word in a team huddle. Tendulkar would consider it his responsibility to take the juniors to some place he had been in the past, introduce them to new cuisines, teach them the ways of the world and make them aware about the complexities of being a successful sportsperson. At this Asian Games, Indian track and field finally got their own Paaji. And as Jena said, he would be called Bhaisaab.
On the way to the Asiad gold, Neeraj showed that his greatness can’t just be measured in metres. What he did between throws, and after winning the medal, showed the boy from Haryana was a champion even without the javelin in his hand.
On D-Day, he had the worst possible start. The world knows that Neeraj likes being the early leader. In Tokyo, it was the second throw that got him the gold. Hangzhou seemed to have the same storyline.
Neeraj would give it his all in his first throw, but in a bizarre first for the Games, the officials failed to measure it. Neeraj would argue but give up soon. He would later say, “I didn’t want to waste the warm-up of the throwers following me. Their bodies would have cooled down.”

Even when his mind was preoccupied, busy weighing the consequences of his botched Plan A, he remained alive to the concerns of his javelin brothers, especially his compatriot. When the officials bungled up again and wrongly fouled a Jena attempt, Neeraj played the Bhaisaab. He directed the Orissa thrower to the judges panel. Neeraj would take time out from his routine and talk to the officials, coax them to check the replays.
However, things changed when Jena took the lead and a question mark hung over Neeraj’s gold medal. From a friendly and fair opponent, he would turn into a ruthless pro once wired to win.
Keeping high standards
There was a bit of Roger Federer about the almost theatrical metamorphosis. So many times in his career, when things got tough, Federer would purse his lips, flare his nostrils to get the expression of disapproval on his face. It wasn’t to intimidate the opponent but a demonstration of his annoyance over his failure to live up to the fabled FedEx standards. The Swiss legend would grind his teeth, bounce the ball vigorously on the floor and invariably fire an ace.
India’s Neeraj Chopra (right) and Kishore Kumar Jena wave the national flag after securing gold and silver at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. (PTI Photo)
Neeraj at the top of his run-up, when relegated to the second spot, too had that look. His lips quivered briefly and he seemed to be muttering something under his breath. This was not him seething with anger. Champion athletes control their minds like a horse on a leash, they don’t allow the pressure to trickle down to their limbs.

On his run-up, his stride wasn’t hurried. The switch from being side-on to open-chested was fluid. The body would uncoil perfectly and the javelin would shiver furiously when it left his hand. It would cut the air around it and draw a neat parabola before landing at the 88.88m mark.
It was an effort throw, enough to get him the gold. It was also the signal to take off the game-face mask.
Soon he would share the Tricolour with Jena as they took a victory lap. Neeraj would guide him to the photographers, directing him to give the best frame, making him understand the podium protocol. Broadly, he was playing friend, guide and Bhaisaab to the first-timer. Not just Jena even long jumper Murali Sreeshankar and his old mate decathlete Tejaswin Shankar athletes seek his advice and ask for tips.Most Read
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Neeraj is a throwback to the time in Indian sports when the country’s sporting greats – Tendulkar, Prakash Padukone, Viswanathan Anand and Vijay Amritraj – wore their greatness lightly.

Though largely understated, Neeraj isn’t afraid to even take unpopular stands. During the wrestlers’ protest at Jantar Mantar, he was among the few who tweeted in their support and also backed his arch rival from Pakan, Arshad Nadeem, when he was being trolled.With that delightful Haryanavi accent, toothpaste ad smile and kind eyes, Neeraj can melt hearts and de-escalate conflicts. He can also make the most-repeated post-match clichés uttered sportspersons sound true.
“It was fun going one-on-one with Jena…Aaj maza aa gaya. So, thanks Jena,” Neeraj would say about the opponent who almost snatched his guaranteed gold. How can a high-pressure situation be fun? It can if you, and even your rivals, have the strong belief that “Bhaisaab maar hi denge”.
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