After putting in a stunning performance to win India's first Olympic gold medal in athletics, Neeraj Chopra is being showered with praises and prizes from across the country.
The country's biggest carrier, Indigo, yesterday announced unlimited free travel for "Sona Munda" for a year after the athlete's gold-winning performance.
"You have shown us what hard work, resilience and passion can achieve and I am sure you will be a torch bearer for future Indian athletes. Well done, Neeraj," said Ronojoy Dutta, CEO of Indigo.
Apart from Indigo, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has awarded Golden Pass to Neeraj Chopra which means he can travel in any state corporation's bus for life in the state and internationally for free. Such a pass has been issued for the first time by KSRTC.
Meanwhile, Industrialist Anand Mahindra has promised to gift Neeraj Chopra a Mahindra XUV700 - the Indian automaker's upcoming product in its SUV line.
"We are all in your army, Baahubali," Mr Mahindra tweeted, along with a grid photo showing the Olympian and the fantasy action film hero, Baahubali, leading an army on horseback.
We're all in your army, Baahubali #NeerajChoprapic.twitter.com/63ToCpX6pn
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 7, 2021Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "history has been scripted". "History has been scripted at Tokyo! What @Neeraj_chopra1 has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold. #Tokyo2020," he tweeted.
History has been scripted at Tokyo! What @Neeraj_chopra1 has achieved today will be remembered forever. The young Neeraj has done exceptionally well. He played with remarkable passion and showed unparalleled grit. Congratulations to him for winning the Gold. #Tokyo2020https://t.co/2NcGgJvfMS
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 7, 2021The 23-year-old won the Olympics men's javelin throw final with such ease that none of the 11 other competitors even came close to his second-best throw of 87.03m.
It was India's first gold medal at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics and also the country's second individual gold medal in its Olympic history after Abhinav Bindra's heroics in Beijing 2008.
