Neeraj Chopra is a world-famous Indian athlete. He throws a long stick called a Javelin. He has won many gold medals for India. Many people call him the "Golden Boy."

A Boy from a Small Village

Neeraj was born on December 24, 1997. He was born in Khandra village. This village is in Panipat, Haryana. He lived in a very big family.

There were 19 people in his house! His father is a farmer. His mother is a housewife. Neeraj was the first child in the family. Everyone loved and pampered him a lot.

The Problem with Weight

As a young boy, Neeraj was very fat. At age 12, he weighed 80 kg. Other children in the village teased him. They made fun of his weight.

His family was worried about his health. His uncle took him to a gym. Neeraj did not like the gym at first. But he wanted to get fit.

Finding the Javelin

One day, Neeraj went to Shivaji Stadium in Panipat. He saw some athletes there. They were throwing a long, sharp stick. This was the Javelin.

Neeraj tried to throw it for fun. He threw it very far. A coach named Jaiveer Singh saw him. He saw great talent in the boy. He told Neeraj to practice every day.

Hard Work and Success

Neeraj started training very hard. He moved to a bigger stadium in Panchkula. He practiced for many hours every day.

In 2012, he became a junior champion. In 2016, he won a world gold medal. He broke a world record for young players. This made him very famous in India.

Joining the Indian Army

The Indian Army saw his great talent. They offered him a job in 2016. Neeraj became a soldier (Naib Subedar).

He feels very proud to wear the uniform. The Army helps him with his training. Today, he is a Lieutenant Colonel. He serves the country and plays sports.

The Big Win at Tokyo Olympics

The Tokyo Olympics took place in 2021. The whole world was watching. Neeraj went to the final round.

He took his Javelin and ran fast. He threw it with all his strength. The stick flew 87.58 meters. This throw won him the Gold Medal.

He became the first Indian to win gold in athletics. India was very happy that day. People danced on the streets to celebrate.

Never Giving Up: The Comeback

Being an athlete is not easy. Neeraj had a bad injury in his elbow. He had to go for a big surgery.

He could not throw for many months. But Neeraj did not give up. He did exercise to make his arm strong again. He came back and won even more medals.

World Champion and Paris 2024

In 2023, Neeraj became the World Champion. He won another gold medal in Hungary.

In 2024, he went to the Paris Olympics. He won a Silver Medal there. He is now one of the best players ever.

Medals Won by Neeraj Chopra

Interesting Facts About Neeraj

• Nickname: His friends call him "Sarpanch."

• Hobbies: He loves fast cars and bikes.

• Kind Heart: He is very humble and polite.

• Family: He loves his mother’s cooking.

• Goal: He wants to throw 90 meters one day.

Why Neeraj Chopra is an Inspiration

Neeraj shows us that anything is possible. He was a fat boy from a village. But he worked very hard.

He stayed away from his home to train. He fought through pain and injury. He always respects his coaches and parents.

Today, every Indian child wants to be like him. He has made sports very popular in India. He is a true hero for the youth.