Paris Olympics silver medallist Neeraj Chopra has gained a huge fan following both in India and internationally, as highlighted by a viral video where a European fan asked for his phone number.
In this undated video, Chopra was seen signing autographs for fans when two young women approached him for pictures. He happily posed with them, but as he was about to leave, one of the women made an unexpected request for his phone number. “Can I have your number?” she asked, but Chopra politely declined.
The video, which has been widely shared on social media platform X, has already garnered over half a million views and numerous comments. Though the exact location and timing of the video are unclear, some users speculated that it may have been filmed after the Diamond League final in Brussels, Belgium. In that event, Chopra narrowly missed first place, finishing second by just 1 centimeter.
A Global Icon – just look at Neeraj’s craze amongst Non-Indians pic.twitter.com/PhRQA27aFP
— IndiaSportsHub (@IndiaSportsHub) September 16, 2024
Recently, Chopra took to his social media to reflect on his performance this season after securing silver in the tournament. He mentioned that despite his efforts, he fell short of his own expectations.
“As the 2024 season ends, I look back on everything I’ve learned—about improvement, setbacks, mentality, and more. On Monday, I injured myself during practice, and X-rays showed a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of my left hand. It was another painful challenge. However, with my team’s support, I managed to compete in Brussels,” Chopra wrote on X.
“This was my last competition of the year, and I wanted to end my season on the track. While I didn’t achieve my own goals, this year has been full of valuable lessons. I’m determined to come back stronger and fully fit for 2025. Thank you all for your support. 2024 has made me a better athlete and person. See you in 2025. Jai Hind,” he concluded.