India’s Olympic Gold medallist, Neeraj Chopra attended a Garba event in Vadodra on Wednesday. The Javelin star was seen performing the traditional ‘Garba’ to Gujarati folk music. Neeraj was in the city as part of the contingent of top Indian athletes invited for the grand opening ceremony of the 36th National Games. He took time out of his schedule to attend the Navratri celebrations in the city.
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#NeerajChopra showing off his Garba moves is a mood in itself! ?pic.twitter.com/Qb7aIYplnF
— The Bridge (@the_bridge_in) September 29, 2022
With an Olympic gold, Commonwealth Games, Asiad and Diamond League medals to his name already, it was not a surprise when the 24-year-old received a rousing welcome upon his arrival at Vadodara.
The World Athletics Championship silver medallist also took up the mic and engaged with the crowd, who were constantly chanting, “Garam Garam Seera Neeraj humara heera” and “India-India.”
The star Indian athlete has had a hectic 2022 schedule that saw him win many laurels despite suffering an injury midway. Neeraj had announced that he would not be partaking in the National Games this year after his Diamond League triumph in Zurich earlier this month.
The 36th National Games will be held in Gujarat from September 29 to October 12. Overall, there are 36 sporting events in the National Games Roster. Around 7000 athletes from 28 states and eight union territories along with the Services – sports team of the Indian Armed Forces will be seen participating in the National Games.
Gujarat will officially open the National Games 2022 in Ahmedabad on Thursday (September 29) with a glittering opening ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will officially declare the Games open in his home state in an event which will also be attended by Neeraj Chopra and badminton star PV Sindhu.
The Opening Ceremony will be streamed & broadcast LIVE by DD Sports & Prasar Bharti YouTUBE channel. The bulk of the sports will commence on Friday (September 30).
“We could manage to do everything in 100 days,” said Gujarat sports minister Harsh Sanghvi. “We wrote to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) of our wish to host the Games in Gujarat in September and we were asked if it was possible. We invited the IOA members and gave our plan, which they accepted,” Sanghvi added.
