Olympics 2024: Reached Paris by bicycle from India
Neeraj Chopra Fan Asraf Ali: The fans of sports and players also have their own unique ways. You must have seen many fans on the cricket field, who travel at their own expense to encourage Indian players wherever the match is being held in the world. But such fans of athletes are rarely seen. Now an Indian fan is the center of discussion, who has reached Paris after travelling a distance of about 22 thousand kilometers from Kerala, India. This fan wants to watch the match of India’s star player Neeraj Chopra.
India’s Fais Asraf Ali reached Paris from Kerala
India’s star athlete Neeraj Chopra is going to get a very special fan at the Paris Olympics, who has reached the capital of France in almost two years by cycling from Kerala. This fan named Fayis Asraf Ali started his cycling journey from Calicut in Kerala to Paris on 15 August 2022. He has reached Paris after traveling 30 countries while covering a distance of about 22,000 kilometers. Ali had set out on a mission to cycle from India to London with a message of peace and unity. During this, after cycling in 17 countries, when he stopped in Budapest on the afternoon of August 1 last year, he came to know that the javelin thrower who won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics was there. Neeraj Chopra was there with the team of players for the World Championship. Ali called a well-known coach from Kerala and asked to meet the Indian team and only then he got a chance to meet his favorite sports star.
Reached Paris on the call of Neeraj Chopra
Asraf Ali told PTI after concluding his visit at India House that I got a few minutes to talk to the Indian athletes and Neeraj told me that when you are going to London why are you not coming to Paris for the Olympics? He said that I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet them again in Paris. So made a little change and got the necessary visa and cycled to the UK before ending his visit here. He said that he is very excited to meet them again. He has requested IOA chief PT Usha. He is here to see them create history again.
Keep these things with you on a long journey
Asraf Ali, an engineer by profession, carries four pairs of clothes, a tent and a sleeping bag with his bicycle, which makes the total weight of his luggage and bicycle about 50 kg. Ali said that he never stops at any hotel and gets some sponsors on the way. He had to go to Kerala twice to arrange for visa in the meantime. He said that you only need a visa to cross the border, a cyclist does not need any other document. When Ali was asked whether he faced fatigue or any health related problem during this time, he said no, never. Ali said that people welcome him with love and warmth everywhere and this inspires him. He is very excited. Ali told that legendary cricketers like Chris Gayle, Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina greeted him in Britain in London.
Gold expected once again from Neeraj Chopra
Let us remind you that it has been three days since the Paris Olympics, during which India has won one medal. India’s star shooter Manu Bhaker has won the bronze medal. If we talk about Asraf Ali’s favorite player Neeraj Chopra, he can be seen on August 8. Neeraj is participating in javelin throw. There is a qualifying round for this on August 6, which he will win easily, after which the javelin throw final is on August 8. It should be fully expected that like the last Olympics, he will bring another gold for India this time too. It remains to be seen how he performs.
(pti inputs)
Read this also
Olympics 2024 Medal Tally: This country has won the most medals, India is at this number
Olympics 2024 Day 4 Live: India hopes for medals from Manu and Sarabjot, India will stake claim in these games