‘Choorma’ awaits golden boy ‘Nijju’ as Khandra readies for his welcome

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Khandra (Panipat), August 9

Khandra — the village of Olympian Neeraj Chopra — erupted into celebrations after their golden boy ‘Nijju’ created history by clinching a silver medal in Paris on Thursday. Neeraj Chopra gave his season’s best by throwing his javelin at 89.45 m, while he had bagged a gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.58 m.

Proud Moment

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Neeraj Chopra’s mother, Saroj Devi, along with other women family members, watched his match at home. “It is a very happy moment for us and all the countrymen. We will give him a warm welcome and will cook his favourite dish ‘Choorma’ for him,” she said.

Family members, villagers and hundreds of people watched Neeraj’s javelin event on a giant TV screen set up in the middle of the street of his village. Over 300 chairs had been arranged in the street, as many others watched Neeraj’s event from their rooftops at midnight.

The villagers got overexcited as Neeraj entered the screen with the javelin in his hands and they started whistling and hooting. ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ slogans rent the air with onlookers forcefully waving the Tricolour. However, some tense moments in the competition made them anxious, which turned into celebrations as soon as he clinched the silver medal.

Colourful fire crackers lit the midnight sky as family members distributed laddoos.

Neeraj’s mother, Saroj Devi, along with other women family members, watched his match at home. “It is a very happy moment for us and all the countrymen. We will give him a warm welcome and will cook his favourite dish ‘Choorma’ for him,” said Saroj Devi, who had tears of happiness in her eyes. Neeraj gave his best despite his injury, we are all very happy with his performance, she added.

“Neeraj has been relishing ‘malai-roti’ since his childhood, he used to eat it every day when he returned from school,” added his paternal aunt.

On the marriage front, his mother said, “We are ready to tie him in a matrimonial knot, but he hasn’t said yes so far, as he is continuously busy in preparation for his game.”

On Neeraj’s loss to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, his father, Satish Chopra, said, “Everyone has his day and today was Nadeem’s day. But Neeraj has become the first Indian to win two medals in consecutive two Olympics.” A grand welcome would be accorded to him on his arrival at home, he added.