Picture Credit: Twitter
Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medal-winning effort has made him an overnight star. While India had not won a single track and field medal at the Games and would have been content even with a silver or a bronze, Neeraj's javelin flew a historic 87.58 m on August 7, now to be observed as National Javelin Throw Day in the country, to end the country's drought of over a 100 years with gold.
While the nation has already given a grand welcome to Neeraj who has been busy attending celebrations and events with VVIPS and answering interview requests, it is being reported that he hasn't reached his hometown yet. India's Golden Boy is set to receive a grand welcome at home after the Olympic triumph. In fact, a feast for an estimated 30,000 people is being prepared in Samalkha, Panipat.
"He will be receiving a grand welcome, I have prepared 'churma' for him. We will keep his gold medal in the mandir," Neeraj's mother Saroj Devi was quoted as saying by ANI.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hosted the Indian contingent of the Tokyo Olympics for breakfast on Monday and during the meal, PM had treated Neeraj with his favourite "churma." The Prime Minister also fulfilled the promise he had made to PV Sindhu before she left for the Olympics and conversed with her over some ice cream.
"Bonding over churma! PM Shri Narendra Modi and @Neeraj_chopra1 share a lighter moment," a tweet from 'Mann Ki Baat Updates' handle said.
Meanwhile, the Indian men's hockey team, which won a bronze medal at Olympics 2020 to end India's 41-year wait for a medal in the sport at the Olympic games, gifted the prime minister an autographed hockey stick. In addition, wrestlers including Ravi Dahiya and Bajrang Punia who won silver and bronze medals, respectively, in men's freestyle wrestling, also interacted with the PM.
Notably, Tokyo 2020 was the best performance by the Indian contingent at an Olympics as they returned with seven medals- 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze.