- Tuesday, April 16, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE euphoria over athlete Neeraj Chopra’s massive show at the just-concluded Tokyo Olympics refuses to get over. As the country continues to celebrate the 23-year-old army subedar’s success in winning a gold in javelin throw at the mega event, one petrol-pump owner in the western Indian state of Gujarat has offered to give free fuel to customers whose first name is ‘Neeraj’.
It has been reported that the pump of Ayub Pathan in Netrang district of Gujarat’s Bharuch district saw 28 people availing the offer in just two days and they were also felicitated with bouquets by Pathan and his staff members.
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“I love sports and followed the Olympics on television. We all hoped that India would win at least one gold medal. It was so thrilling when Neeraj Chopra won. People had to show their identity proof in order to avail the benefit,” Pathan said.
India won the gold on the penultimate day of the Olympics, ending the wait for a gold at the show after 13 years. Chopra became the second Indian after Abhinav Bindra (in shooting, Beijing 2008) to bag an individual gold medal at the Olympics. India also finished with their richest medal haul at the Olympics with one gold, two silver and four bronzes, including one in hockey in which the country finished among the top three teams after 41 years.
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Speaking about Pathan’s gesture, Neeraj Vasava, a 25-year-old resident from Dediyapada, located about 17 miles from Netrang, said it was a “really unique way” of honouring Chopra.
Thirty-year-old Neeraj Gamit from Bharuch town, located around 33 miles from Netrang, told the Indian Express newspaper, “I appreciate this gesture of the petrol pump owner. Neeraj Chopra made every Indian proud. This way we could honour the sportsman.”
Pathan is, however, not the only one to honour Chopra in a unique way. The Girnar ropeway service management in Junagadh, Gujarat, also announced that people with the name ‘Neeraj’ can enjoy a free ropeway ride till August 20.
“Total 35 people have availed free rides. People are happy and appreciating our move,” Deepak Kaplish, regional head (west) of Usha Breco Limited (UBL), the operator of Girnar Ropeway, told The Indian Express.
Kaplish also said that the administrators of Gujarat’s popular Ambaji Temple also made special arrangements for people named ‘Neeraj’ to offer prayers.
