'Can't sign on Indian flag': Neeraj Chopra's gesture wins hearts
India's golden boy at the 2020 Olympic Summer Olympics, Neeraj Chopra scripted history in Budapest on Monday, beating arch-rival from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem, to win the country's first-ever gold medal in the World Athletics Championships. It was his second medal at the World Championships after he secured a silver last year. Neeraj Chopra, 25 years, is also being praised for his patriotic gesture.
After winning the gold medal for the men's javelin throw, a Hungarian fan approached him and asked to sign an Indian flag. However, Chopra refused, saying, "Sorry Mam, it is a violation of my flag code, cannot sign it". “Eventually, he signed her shirt sleeve.
She was pretty happy all the same" according to a post on X by journalist Jonathan Selvaraj. “After winning the #WorldAthleticsChamps in Budapest yesterday, A hungarian fan came to him with an Indian flag and asked him to sign it for her. Subedar Neeraj Chopra humbly denied and said “ Sorry Mam, it is a violation of my flag code, cannot sign it.
" “He signed her Tshirt instead." A picture of Neeraj Chopra signing the fan’s T-shirt with the Tricolour on the desk is viral on social media with 1 million views, 20.3K likes and 2,012 reposts since shared. Several social media users have commented on Chopra for his refusal to sign the flag. An incredible athlete and a honest, patriotic citizen.
A great role model to all the Indians! Respect, a user wrote Wow! What an amazing gesture by #NeerajChopra! He is truly an inspiration to us all. His humility and respect for the Indian flag is commendable, writes another user. The man with golden arm and heart! , writes another user Besides the Tokyo Olympics gold, he has won the yellow metal in the Asian Games (2018) and Commonwealth
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