THERE'S A LOT that television screens do not show you. Behind the dazzling grin and affirmative stance of India’s golden boy, Neeraj Chopra is a personality I was fortunate enough to encounter, in person. As I made my way to meet the first Olympian I have ever interviewed, his charisma shone through the distance, as he stood beside the shiny, new look Lexus ES 300h for THE MAN'S cover shoot.
Unlike those tanned by prolonged exposure to the shutterbugs, Neeraj was like a child in a park, cooperating with the team and patiently trying out new poses by the car. The ES 300h seemed to have an allure on the young star and as he got into the driver’s seat and checked out the controls, he asked permission to take the car for a spin, his modesty and mannerisms surprising everyone. He came back from the short spin with a beaming grin, reminding me that this gold medallist is just 23 years old.
When it was time to confront him for the interview, I requested Neeraj for a photograph with me. With his endearing charm, he obliged most graciously and even recommended different camera angles with which we could do our own personal photoshoot. This set a precedence for the fainthearted, modest giant of a sportsman I would be speaking to. And thus, we began.
TRACKING
NEERAJ CHOPRA
GOLD OLYMPICS 2020 TOKYO 87.58m
GOLD ASIAN GAMES 2020 JAKARTA 88.06m
GOLD COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2018 GOLD COAST 86.47m
GOLD ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 BHUBANESHWAR 85.23m
GOLD SOUTH ASIAN GAMES 2016 GUWAHATI 82.23m
WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP BYDGOSZCZ 2016 86.48m
ASIAN JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 2016 HO CHI MINH CITY 77.60m
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