Defending champion Neeraj Chopra failed to secure the gold medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, winning silver with a personal best of 89.45 metres. Chopra’s best throw came in his second attempt but he struggled with four consecutive misses that prevented him from winning gold. Even though everyone is proud of him for achieving the silver medal.
Success in sports is rarely achieved alone. For elite athletes like Neeraj Chopra, the support of family, coaches and nutritionists behind the scenes plays a crucial role in their success. In Chopra’s case, his parents – father Satish Kumar and mother Saroj Devi – were instrumental in his journey to Olympic glory.
After winning the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Chopra’s first act upon returning to India was to greet his parents at the lounge of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. During this emotional reunion, Chopra honoured his parents by hanging his Olympic medal around their necks, as a symbol of their sacrifice and unfailing support.
Neeraj Chopra was born on December 24, 1997, in Khandra village in Panipat district, Haryana. His father, Satish Kumar, is a farmer with limited means, and his mother, Saroj Devi, is a homemaker. Being the eldest of three siblings and having two younger sisters, Sangeeta and Sarita, Chopra had to overcome additional challenges growing up.
As a child, Chopra struggled with obesity and weighed around 90 kilograms at the age of 11. To manage his weight, his father enrolled him in a gym in the nearby town of Madlauda. Chopra found the experience less than pleasant as he often used equipment that others did not want and felt out of place.
His parents supported his need for a different physical activity, which led to a pivotal moment in Chopra’s life. During a visit to the Shivaji Stadium in Panipat with his father, he was introduced to javelin throwing, a sport that immediately piqued his interest. Although he was initially unenthusiastic about running, seeing the javelin throwers motivated him to pursue the sport seriously.
Realising the financial burden that javelin training would entail, Satish Kumar made significant efforts to support Chopra’s ambitions. Despite coming from an agricultural background with limited financial resources, he did everything he could to meet his son’s training and nutritional needs. Satish Kumar’s determination was fueled by the belief that families in need understand the value of basic amenities and are motivated to pursue their dreams.
Living in a joint family of 19 members, including three uncles, provided Neeraj Chopra with additional support. The entire household stood behind him and offered him guidance and encouragement. Satish Kumar recalls, “All of us in our family ensured that Neeraj got the right guidance to become a successful javelin thrower. Our village too supported him and prayed for his success.”
Joining the Indian Army in 2017 was a huge relief for the Chopra family. It provided financial stability and enabled Neeraj to focus on his education while supporting his family. Chopra expressed his gratitude for the stability the job provided him, noting that it alleviated some of the financial pressure on his family.
Since then, Neeraj Chopra has continued to excel in his sport, with the unwavering support of his family a cornerstone of his success.
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