Meanwhile, speaking to Aaj Tak, Harbhajan Singh has said that Neeraj Chopra’s gold at the Tokyo Olympics is bigger than India’s 2011 World Cup win at home. India’s second World Cup win at home came after a 28 years hiatus as they won the first World Cup way back in 1983. Kapil Dev inspired an entire generation of youngsters.
Harbhajan Singh: Neeraj Chopra’s Gold Medal At Olympics Is Bigger Than 2011 ODI World Cup Win
After former cricketer, Gautam Gambhir, veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh compared an Olympic medal with the Indian cricket team’s 2011 World Cup win. Harbhajan Singh said Neeraj Chopra’s historic gold medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics 2020 on Saturday (August 07) was bigger than India’s 2011 World Cup victory.
Neeraj Chopra scripted history as he became the first Indian to win a gold medal in athletics in the history of the Olympics. With a throw of 87.58m in the men’s javelin throw final, Neeraj Chopra finished on top of the podium and brought an end to the country’s 100-year-long wait for a medal in track and field events in athletics at the Olympics.
Speaking to Aaj Tak, Harbhajan Singh compared Neeraj Chopra’s heroics to India’s World Cup victory and said the latter’s gold medal was bigger.
“This gold medal win is bigger than the Cricket World Cup win in 2011. This should be celebrated 50 times more than the 2011 World Cup,” said Harbhajan, who was part of the Indian team which won the World Cup in 2011 after beating Sri Lanka in the final.
Neeraj Chopra became the 2nd Indian in the history of the Olympics to win a medal in track and field events. Norman Pritchard, a British Indian, was the first athlete to win a medal for the country. Neeraj Chopra ended India’s 100-year wait for a medal in track and field events.
Gautam Gambhir Agrees Sarcastically To Harbhajan Singh’s Remark
Gautam Gambhir, who had earlier called India’s bronze medal win in men’s hockey at the Tokyo Olympics, a bigger win than the 2011 Cricket World Cup, reacted to Harbhajan Singh’s remark on Twitter.
“True that @harbhajan_singh …But You shouldn’t have said this! You should not say this ! You shall never say this,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh has echoed exactly the same sentiments former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir share on Twitter after Neeraj Chopra’s world record. He also said that the 2011 World Cup was nothing compared to Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal feat in Tokyo Olympics. After Harbhajan Singh’s statement to Aajtak, Gautam Gambhir replied to him on his Twitter handle saying that he should not have said on Twitter adding a sarcastic tone to it.
Both Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir were part of India’s 2011 World Cup squad which India played under MS Dhoni. Gautam Gambhir, for a matter of fact, scored a brilliant 97 in the final with then skipper MS Dhoni scoring 91.
Both Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir after winning the 2011 World Cup together were dropped from India’s 2015 World Cup squad in Australia and New Zealand. India made an exit in the tournament, losing the semifinal against Australia.