Neeraj Chopra Exclusive Interview: The Real Impact of my Gold medal is only if I can inspire India’s youth
Neeraj Chopra’s life has never been the same since the 7th of August 2021, when he created history by becoming only the second individual Olympic Gold medalist with his mighty throw of 87.58 metres in the final of the Javelin Throw in Tokyo. This was also India’s first medal in track and field events in over 120 years and the first-ever gold medal in athletics.
Today, he sits down for an exclusive interview with Man’s Life where he reveals his preparation for the Olympics, plans for the future and how his life has changed since the 7th of August.
Q: Sabse pehle aapko is achievement ke liye dher saari badhaiyaan. Yeh bataayein, Bharat ke liye Olympic medal jeetne ke baad kaise rahe aapke agle 20-25 din? Kya badlaav aaya aapki life mein?
Sabse pehle toh aap sabhi ko dhanyavad! Tokyo ke baad India aakar zindagi toh kaafi badal chuki hai, desh ke sabhi kono se itna saara pyaar aur support mil raha hai, jitna maine socha nahi tha. Itna toh ahsaas tha ki Gold ka celebration toh hoga desh mein, par jis level ka pyaar mila hai sabhi se, who bahot ki khaas raha hai mere liye.
Q: Ab chyunke aap Olympic Gold Medal jeet chuke hai – Humein bataiye is baar participate karte time kitne confident the ki aap gold medal ke liye fight kar paayenge aur woh kaunsa moment tha jab aapko yeh ehsaas hua ki ab yeh Gold Medal aapka hai?
Meri training Olympics ke pehle acchi chal rahi thi aur mujhe apne aap pe confidence tha ki main apne best de paunga Olympics mein. Gold ya Silver socha nahi tha, kyonki hamare game mein sab din ke uppar hota hai aur mere se zyada duur fekne waale throwers bhi the wahan. Toh meri taraf se koshish ye hi thi ki main apna best doon, aur koi kasar chhodu nahi. Qualifying round mein pehli throw par hi qualification mark cross kar diya tha jisse finals ke din main apne form ko lekar confident tha. Gold medal ka ashaas toh saare competitors ke last throw ke baad hi hua kyonki hamare sport mein last throw tak mein positions badal sakti hai.
Q: Kya lagta hai aapko, aapki ki is jeet se Track and field ke navjawan Indian athletes par kya prabhav hoga aur unhe kaise prerna milegi?
Ji bilkul, main toh ye hi maanta hoon ki mere medal ka asli impact toh tab hoga agar main youth ko inspire kar saku track and field, ya javelin mein interest lene ke liye. Mujhe lagta hai ki aaj ke time mein, yuvaon mein khel ke prati interest utna level ka nahi hai jitna pehle hota tha. Agar mujhe dekh kar koi ladka ya ladki khel khelna shuru kar de, kissi bhi level pe, mere liye woh hi ek bahut badi uplabdhi hogi.
Q: Ek world champion Javelin Thrower banne ke liye, aapke hisaab se, kaunsi woh 3 khoobiyaan hai jo ek athlete mein honi chahiye?
Ji main samajhta hoon ki hardwork, dedication aur patience – ye teen cheeze hai jo sabse important hai. Mujhe bhi Olympic Champion banne mein 10 saal ki mehnat lagi hai, toh main samajhta hoon ki mehnat, aur ek jazba aage jaake apne field mein kuch kar dikhane ka, woh bahut hi important hota hai. Aur aakhir mein patience, kyonki bahut saare athletes aur bacche short cuts lene ki koshish karte hai, jo main samajhta hoon, bilkul sahi nahi hota. Patience rakh ke hi agar mehnat karte raho, toh aapko sahi time mein sahi uplabdhi zaroor haasil hogi.
Q: Har khiladi ke liye zaroori hota hai pressure ko handle kar paana.. Olympic jaise bade stage par perform karne ke pressure ko aapne kaise handle kiya aur maansik roop se kaisi taiyyari ki?
Dekhiye pressure toh kissi bhi bade event ya tournament mein hota hi hai, jaise kuch baccho ko apne bade bade exams ke pehle lagta hoga. Par maine hamesha se ye hi maana hai ki agar mujhe apne taiyyari par aur apne aap par bharosa hai, toh main apne best de sakta hoon. Pressure toh tha definitely, par maine har competition ki tarah, Olympics mein bhi apne aap ko ye hi kaha ki mujhe apne liye aur apne desh ke liye best performance deni hai. Bas, wohi khayal mann mein lekar competition mein enter kiya.
Q: Aapki prerna, inspiration ya role model kaun rahe hai?
Waise toh main maanta hoon ki mere chhote chacha ji jo hai (Surender Kumar naam hai unka), woh hi mere inspiration rahe hai. Bachpan mein unhone hi mujhe fitness ke liye stadium jaane ke liye manaya tha, aur unhone hamesha hi mujhe bahot zyada support kiya hai. Javelin ki baat kare toh maine starting se hi Czech Republic ke Jan Zelezny ko apna idol maana hai, who hamare sport ke World Record Holder hai aur starting se hi mujhe unke throwing videos dekhna bahot hi pasand hai.
Q: Olympics ke ek dedh saal pehle se duniya mein ab tak ki sabse badi mahamari aayi, covid ke roop mein. Aise mein aapne kaise apna santulan banaye rakha aur aapko maansik aur sharirik training and fitness mein kya pher-badal ya badlaav karna pada, Olympics ki tayyari ke liye?
COVID ki vajah se puri duniya ko hi bahot dikkat hui hai, aur kahin na kahin, hum athletes ke training mein bhi khed aayi, par main samajhta hoon ye toh sabhi ke liye problem tha. Mere liye zyada problem is liye aayi kyonki pura 2019 ka season mere elbow injury ki vajah se mera miss ho gaya tha. 2020 mein maine dobara khena shuru hi kiya tha jab COVID ki mahamari aayi. Kaafi mahine ke liye apne room mein band rehna, aur training na kar pana, kissi bhi athlete ke liye bahut hi mushkil hota hai. Maine lockdown mein apne conditioning aur fitness pe bahut kaam kiya kyonki us time sirf wohi karna allowed tha. Jab hum ground ja sake, fir dheere dheere javelin ki technical training bhi start kar di thi. Sabse tough apne aap ko motivate rakhna tha, kyonki hume pata nahi tha ki agla competition kab aur kaise hoga.
Q: Ab chyuke aap Olympic Gold Medal jeet chuke hai- aap khud ko aur achha karne ke liye kaise motivated rakhte hai aur aapka agla lakshya kya hai?
Dekhiye, Olympic Gold medal jeetna toh bahut hi acchi baat hai, par main samajhta hoon ki ab aage mujhe paane ke liye aur kaafi lakshya hai. Sabse pehle toh agle saal hamare Athletics ke World Championships ho rahe hai, jisme mera aaj tak medal nahi aaya hai. Aur fir Commonwealth aur Asian Games bhi hai agle season, jahan main chahunga ki apne Gold medals defend kar paun. Mujhe lagta hai ki Olympic medal jeetne waale athletes toh kaafi hote hai, but jo sahi maine mein Champions kehlate hai woh hote hai jo ushi level pe dobara medals jeet paye, jaise Usain Bolt ya Michael Phelps. Toh mujhme abhi bhi who aage badhne ka junoon hai aur main chahta hoon ki main aur medals jeet kar apne desh ka naam aur bhi aage bada sakun.
Q: Woh bachhe ya naujawan jo sports aur athletics mein apna passion follow karna chahta hai unke ke liye aap kya sandesh dete hai?
Main sabhi ko ye hi salah dunga ki aap log apni mehnat karte rahe, sahi seniors ya coaches ke saath jude jo aapko acche se guide kar sake aur patience rakhe taaki aap bhi sahi time pe acchi performance de sake. Main ye sandesh sirf athletes ko hi nahi par sabhi yuvaon ko dena chahta hoon ki aap ko jis bhi field mein interest ho, chahe sports ho ya padhai ya art, dance/music, bas pura dil lagakar usme mehnat karte raho aur aapko saphalta zaroor prapt hogi.
ML Sports