By Yag Dutt Arya, SMPBL-08, 2022
I will never forget Saturday, September 14, 2024. It was a day when I got the opportunity to witness the athletics Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, and the final of Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw, up-close. Meeting and interacting with Neeraj was a dream come true for our family and it also helped us understand the man behind the legend.
Caption: Neeraj Chopra with Yag Dutt Arya and his family at Brussels, Belgium
My family and I arrived in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from Delhi on September 13 around 10 pm. The next day, we travelled to Brussels and checked into our hotel around 4 pm. We were fortunate to be staying in the same hotel as athletes participating in the Diamond League finals. Meeting Neeraj Chopra’s coach and physio was an incredible experience. Soon after, we met Neeraj Chopra himself, who was warm, confident, and gracious despite his left-hand injury. Neeraj was touched when he learned that we had travelled all the way from Delhi to Brussels specifically to watch the Diamond League and, more importantly, the javelin throw event. We wished him well for the competition, and he promised to meet us again after the event.
Neeraj’s event was scheduled for 8:20 pm. We reached the King Stadium in Brussels around 6 pm and were impressed by the seamless arrangements. Our seats were right behind the javelin throw area. Being among athletes and spectators from around the world, holding the Indian tricolor, was exhilarating. Despite being in Europe, a significant number of Indians attended the event, especially to support Neeraj.
The javelin event
Caption: Neeraj Chopra in action during Diamond League Finals at King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
Despite his hand injury, Neeraj Chopra did not disappoint securing the second place, with his javelin landing just one centimetre behind the winner. He had not publicly disclosed his injury earlier. His mind-set was focused on becoming a champion and making the country proud. I believe finishing second by just one centimetre is not a defeat, but rather motivation to strive for even better performance, next time.
Caption: Yag Dutt Arya and family proudly holdingthe Indian flag at King Stadium, Brussels
In the last 1100 days, Neeraj Chopra’s unparalleled achievement of consistently securing first or second place in every competition, has no parallel in Indian history. At just 26 years old, being a National Champion, Asian champion, Commonwealth champion, World Champion, Olympic Champion, and Diamond League Champion is a rare feat. Despite suffering a fracture in his left hand in Brussels, narrowly missing the championship by just one centimeter among the world’s leading javelin throwers is regrettable, but achieving such a feat for the country even after being injured is unprecedented.
Awed by Neeraj’s warmth
Caption: Neeraj Chopra and Yag Dutt Arya
The humility of Neeraj Chopra, India’s pride and most successful athlete in the last 125 years, has left us spellbound. Most people swell with pride at the slightest success and consider themselves great. But Neeraj is different, despite achieving immense success, he is grounded. His ability to speak with love and respect, show reverence to his elders, and proudly uphold India’s cultural values even abroad make him truly exceptional. Greeting everyone with a humble ‘Namaste ji’ makes him feel like a part of our own family.
My family and I have been following athletics along with other sports for the past few years. We have watched many of Neeraj Chopra’s events on television, but this was the first time we got to meet him up close and personal. It felt like meeting a family member, Neeraj asked about our upcoming plans, and when we mentioned Switzerland, he beamed with joy and shared recommendations for scenic spots. We discovered he’s the brand ambassador for Switzerland Tourism which made us proud.
Before leaving, Neeraj touched our feet, seeking blessings like a son would from his parents, and wished us well. The warmth and humility of this legendary athlete left us in awe. We pray that Neeraj remains healthy and continues to break records in javelin throw, bringing glory to India. We would also like to thank Neeraj Chopra’s coach Mr. Klaus Bartonietz, and physio Mr. Ishaan Marwaha for teaching him the nuances of javelin throw and maintaining his physical fitness. We are deeply grateful.
We also pray to the Almighty to swiftly heal Neeraj’s injuries and enable him to participate in upcoming competitions soon. We request everyone to show equal enthusiasm for athletics alongside other sports and boost the morale of our athletes. Our players are ready to give their all for the country.
Yag Dutt Arya has studied from KM College, Delhi University and done MDP from IIM Lucknow and ISB Hyderabad. He is an Associate in LIC of India with over 38 years of experience in the field of marketing of insurance especially corporate and big insurance proposals
