'I hope Vinesh gets the medal because...': Neeraj Chopra on wrestler's Olympic silver appeal
Paris: Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is hopeful for wrestler Vinesh Phogat as she awaits the outcome of her appeal against disqualification from the Games.
However, he also hopes that "people don't forget what she has done for the country" if the decision goes against her. Vinesh was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight before her 50kg category final on Wednesday and has since appealed the decision in the ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
A verdict on the appeal is expected by 9:30 PM IST on Saturday.
Chopra, who claimed his second consecutive Olympic medal, a silver after the gold in Tokyo, said he wants the medal around Vinesh's neck for one simple reason. "...people shouldn't forget her. If she gets the medal, it would be very good. If things had not panned out the way they did, she would have had the medal. I hope she gets it because if you don't have it around your neck, that thing stays in your heart," the 26-year-old Chopra told reporters at 'India House' after a felicitation by IOC member and Reliance Foundation chairperson Nita Ambani.
"Today people might say that she is our champion but, I feel till the time one is not on the podium they will forget after a few days. Mujhe yeh darr hai bas. Agar aisa na hota, a medal wouldn't have mattered. So, I hope she gets the medal. I just hope whether she gets the medal or not, people don't forget what she did for the country," he said.
#WATCH | Paris: On Sports Court CAS's hearing of Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, Olympic Silver medallist, Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra says "All of us know that if she gets the medal it will be really good. She would have got the medal if such a situation did not arise. If we… pic.twitter.com/TtKWF11Yzk
— ANI (@ANI) August 10, 2024
Chopra is the first track-and-field athlete from India to win two Olympic medals.
His gold in Tokyo remains an unparalleled achievement in Indian athletics.
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