India has no shortage of athletes who bring immense pride to the nation every time they participate in international championships. One such athlete is Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic gold medalist who turned into a celebrity overnight. With his impressive win in the 2020 Olympics, he won the hearts of millions of people and became a treasure for the country. Have you ever wondered about his journey? How did a simple boy from Haryana embrace such glory? He recently joined our Editor-in-Chief, Kamiya Jani, for an exciting Sunday Brunch episode, giving us an insight into his life. Head to the amazing episode to learn all about him!
Neeraj Chopra Is A Sneakerhead
Neeraj Chopra revealed that he won the gold medal in a junior-level national competition in 2014 when we inquired about his first-ever salary. For that victory, he was paid ₹2L, which was his first wage. He added that it was a significant event for him and his family. What did he do with such a huge amount? He shared jokingly that when his family told him to do anything he wanted with the money, he took them seriously and bought a lot of things for himself like sneakers, javelin, etc. He shared that he wasn’t too mindful of the money at first.
We were curious if he was still the same way, and he shared that he now relies on his family to manage his money. He only keeps as much as he needs to get by. However, he’s a sneakerhead who likes to collect limited-edition shoes and that is something he likes to splurge on. Even if he doesn’t get to wear them as much, he surely loves to have them in his collection.
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This Is How His Life Changed After The Olympic Win
He spoke about the victory and the significant changes that have occurred in his life as a result. It was undoubtedly a remarkable journey, but now that he is famous, he is met everywhere by admirers. Neeraj Chopra acknowledged the attention he is receiving and added that most of the people who approach him are other athletes who look up to him. Rudra, his village in Haryana, is where he feels the most love and support.
He went on to discuss his travels, his future plans, and a tonne more that you absolutely must watch!
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal