A "dream come true" moment occurred in Zurich, Switzerland when India's Olympic star Neeraj Chopra met his hero, Roger Federer.
Neeraj, who was already a huge admirer of the renowned tennis player, expressed his amazement at the Swiss player's humility and ability to make the other person feel comfortable.
Neeraj posted photos with Federer on both his Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts, writing, "An absolute honour to meet a sporting icon, whose career has been and continues to be an inspiration to people. I had a great time talking to you, and hopefully we’ll meet again."
The two icons of their respective sports expressed mutual admiration for each other and had a lot of good things to say.
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Roger Federer: I am amazed by how much Neeraj Chopra has achieved
At the event at La Reserve Eden au Lac in Zurich, Federer said that he was impressed by just how much the Indian javelin star had achieved in his career.
I am amazed by how much Neeraj has achieved personally and for his country through his grit and determination. It’s been great to meet him here in Zurich.
Meanwhile, Neeraj expressed his thoughts on his meeting with the 20-time Grand Slam winner.
It’s a dream come true for me to meet Roger Federer here in Zurich. I have always admired his skill, his spirit of true sportsmanship and his ability to inspire millions around the world. Today, however, what inspired me the most was his humility and his easy-going charm that made me feel so comfortable in his presence. We had a wonderful time exchanging notes about our respective passions and life’s experiences on and off the field.
Neeraj gave the former World No. 1 an autographed Asian Games India jersey, while Federer gave him an autographed tennis racquet.
What next for Neeraj Chopra?
Neeraj, who made history in 2021 by being India's second individual gold medalist at the deferred Tokyo Olympics, would be looking to replicate the achievement in Paris later this year.
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