Javelin Ace Neeraj Chopra Promises PM Modi ‘Mom-Made Churma’ After Paris Olympics

New Delhi: Olympic gold medallist javelin ace Neeraj Chopra has promised mom-made Churma for PM Narendra Modi during an interaction ahead of the Paris Olympics. Chopra, who became only second Indian to win an individual Olympic gold (at Tokyo 2020), was one of the Paris Games-bound athletes to attend the light-hearted interaction with PM Modi on Thursday. The interaction also featured the men’s hockey team and the 21-strong shooting contingent in person, while the likes of Chopra, PV Sindhu and Nikhat Zareen, joined online from their respective training bases abroad.

After returning with gold in javelin from Tokyo Olympics, Chopra had promised homemade Churma to Modi during his meeting with him but PM Modi reminded the dashing javelin thrower that he was yet to keep his word. “I will bring Churma for you this time. Last time in Delhi, I got churma made in sugar but I will bring desi ghee and gur (jaggery) churma from Haryana (this time),” Chopra responded.

To this, PM Modi replied: “No I want to eat churma made at home by your mother.” For the unknown, Churma is a popular sweet delicacy in Haryana. It is made by mashing up roti in ghee and jaggery. It is not served with ghee, especially as a diet for the wrestlers sparring in the dangal of akharas. It is usually served either with a tall glass of warm milk, lassi, or with sour kadhi.

Meanwhile, Chopra advised his fellow Paris-bound athletes to be fearless while competing in the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza. “Tokyo was my first Olympics and in first Olympics, the result was pretty good, I won gold for the country. There was no fear in my mind, and I had self belief because I had good training,” he said.

“I would tell every athlete not to fear anyone or anything. We don’t have to fear Europeans or Americans because they are also human beings like us. If we can recognise ourselves, we have been living outside our homes for long time and training hard, so nothing is impossible.”

The meeting with the contingent was also attended by sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Indian Olympic Association (IAO) President PT Usha. PM Modi also asked the athletes to give a feedback on the arrangements in Paris Games. “I won’t ask you to do anything in the middle of your events but when you are free, I would urge you to observe the arrangements.

“Your inputs will help our bid for 2036. We will have an understanding on how to make sure that we are better-prepared,” he added in his closing remarks to the athletes. The upcoming Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11 and India would be hoping to better its best ever tally of seven medals, including Chopra’s historic javelin throw gold, achieved in the Tokyo Games. Over 100 Indian sportspersons have qualified for the Games, including an unprecedented 21 shooters, who would be aiming to end the medal drought of last two editions.