It will be gold in Paris too: AFI chief Adille Sumariwalla

Neeraj Chopra during the javelin throw final last week. Pic/Getty Images

Athletics Federation of India (AFI) chief Adille Sumariwalla is confident that Tokyo Olympics gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will repeat his performance at the 2024 Paris Games.

"Neeraj will create history again. He is just 23 and I am sure he will repeat his performance at Paris in 2024. He has a strong mindset, is very focused and is professional as an athlete. He can play for at least 10 more years," Sumariwalla told mid-day from New Delhi on Monday.

Chopra, on Saturday, bagged gold with a throw of 87.58m, the first Olympic medal by an Indian athlete in track and field. He also became only the second Indian individual athlete after former shooter Abhinav Bindra [2008 Beijing] to clinch an Olympic gold. Chopra has become the darling of the nation overnight and is being showered with cash awards and prizes from both the government as well as the private sector. And it is this newfound fame and glamour that India's javelin super star may struggle to handle, felt Sumariwalla, 63, who competed in the 100m sprint at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Adille Sumariwalla

Expectations

"All these things will play a role now. You cannot give him a one-day lecture on how to face these situations. We [AFI] will be talking to him from time to time about how to handle glamour and stardom. It will be a very big challenge for him because the minute you become a star like say Virat [Kohli] or Sachin [Tendulkar], people start expecting a top-class performance every time. So, Neeraj has to be ready to tackle such expectations," remarked Sumariwalla.

Emotional moment

Interestingly, it was Sumariwalla, who felicitated Chopra on the podium during the victory ceremony in Tokyo, and the veteran administrator said that it was a very emotional moment.

"I was actually crying at that time. That moment was very special and emotional. I was just numb because it was such a different moment. It was a fantastic effort by Neeraj. We were expecting a medal from him but to get the gold is absolutely fantastic. He deserves all the credit. With Neeraj's gold medal, I feel my ambition has been fulfilled because I always wanted to see Indian win an Olympic medal in athletics. So I'm proud that it has happened during my term as AFI president," Sumariwalla said.

Chopra's accomplishment will give the sport of athletics a massive boost across the country, felt Sumariwalla. "When any country wins an Olympic medal in athletics, I believe it has proved itself as a sporting power. Now, all parents will want their children to become like Neeraj. I'm sure many young kids will be attracted
to athletics," Sumariwalla signed off.

AFI to celebrate August 7 as National Javelin Day

The day Neeraj Chopra scripted history by winning gold medal at Tokyo Olympics, August 7, will be celebrated as National Javelin Day by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). Chopra became only the second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold last Saturday when he clinched the yellow metal in javelin throw with a best effort of 87.58m.

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