Fan travels 22,000 km on bicycle to watch Neeraj Chopra defend gold at the Paris Olympics 2024
In an outlandish feat, one of Neeraj Chopra’s supporters has reached Paris after riding 22,000 km on a bicycle. Cyclist Fayis Asraf Ali, who started his journey on August 15, 2022, recently made it to Paris to watch Neeraj defend his gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Asraf cycled through thirty countries before making it to Paris. On his journey, he carried a tent, a sleeping bag, a mat, and some clothes. In total, the cyclist carried a total weight of 50kg on his bicycle.
Asraf Ali hails from Kerala and is an engineer by profession. He first met Neeraj Chopra at the 2023 World Athletic Championships in Budapest with the help of a local coach from Kerala. The star javelin thrower had created history in Budapest by becoming the first Indian to have won a World Championships gold.
It was in Budapest that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medalist asked Ashraf to also come to the Paris Olympics as he had already covered a great distance.
Asraf obtained a visa and traveled to the United Kingdom before arriving in Paris. He was supported by several generous strangers on his journey, who helped him with accommodations. The engineer, who worked in Saudi before returning to India in 2015, also had some sponsors supporting him in his quest.
Neeraj Chopra gears up to compete at Paris 2024 Olympics in bid to defend 2020 Tokyo gold
Neeraj Chopra will begin his campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics soon. The celebrated Indian athlete had announced himself on the world stage with a coveted gold medal win at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The ace thrower will be competing in the men’s javelin throw event in Paris. He has plenty of expectations riding on him. Chopra is expected to achieve yet another podium finish for India at the quadrennial event.
The 26-year-old arrived at the Olympic Village on Tuesday, July 30. He will be in action in the Men’s Group A Javelin Throw Qualification Round on August 6 at Stade de France.