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India's Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has deservedly hogged all the limelight recently. However, it seems like all the exertion post becoming a national hero on August 7, when he clinched the historic medal has taken a toll on him. Neeraj had to leave his welcome ceremony in Panipat midway due to fever and exertion on Tuesday afternoon. While he had fever a few days ago, he had tested negative for Coronavirus and recovered just in time to attend the Independence Day event in Delhi on Tuesday.
Notably, Neeraj is the first Indian to win a track and field medal at the Summer Games and only the second individual gold medallist at the Olympics from India. His monstrous throw of 87.58 m sealed the country's first medal in athletics in over 100 years.
A report carried by Times Now has claimed that Neeraj's family and friends told that the javelin thrower was feeling uncomfortable and got down from the stage. He had been attending a car rally from Delhi to Panipat and the journey which usually takes two-three hours took six hours. While the 23-year-old was already on medications, the heat and exertion of the journey seems to have impacted his health.
Consequently, Neeraj's family will now have to wait longer for his grand welcome. The preparation for his welcome has been in full swing. A feast for an estimated 30,000 people was being prepared in Samalkha, Panipat.
We will keep his gold medal in the mandir: Neeraj's mother
"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.