In a heartwarming gesture that has won hearts online, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra surprised a fan seeking Rs 2000 to attend his upcoming javelin event by sponsoring the fan’s entire trip to Bengaluru.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, originally postponed due to India-Pakistan tensions, is now scheduled for July 5 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
The story began when an X (formerly Twitter) user named Ranjith posted a message saying, “If anyone sponsors me Ts2000, I can go to watch this from Coimbatore,” along with a video promoting the event. To everyone’s surprise, Chopra responded directly:
“Hi Ranjith. You’ve got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the @nc_classic is on me! And thanks to @RadissonHotels, you’ll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon!”
This act of generosity ahead of one of the most anticipated javelin meets has elevated Chopra not only as a sports icon but also a people’s champion.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic, awarded ‘A’ category status by World Athletics, is being co-organised by Chopra, JSW Sports, the Athletics Federation of India, and World Athletics. The event will witness global stars such as Anderson Peters (Grenada), Thomas Röhler (Germany), Julius Yego (Kenya), Curtis Thompson (USA), Genki Dean (Japan), Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka), and Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil).
Neeraj’s thoughtful response exemplifies his humility and commitment to his fans, adding a touch of inspiration to an already stellar sporting occasion.