Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made every single Indian proud when he brought home the elusive gold medal after winning the men’s javelin throw final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. With this gold, he ended India’s long wait for an athletics Olympic gold.

Elated after winning the event and clinching the gold medal, as customary, Neeraj Chopra held the Indian flag up high and went to the Indian dug out and then followed it with a small victory lap.

Draped in the Indian flag, he also clicked pictures alongside the silver and bronze medallist.

But what caught the eyes of the fans and the internet is his respect for the Indian flag. After his victory lap, Neeraj reverently folded the Indian national flag and kept it in his bag. The users pointed out that some athletes tend to just stuff it in their bag or just spread the flag in an unkempt manner on the bench on which they are sitting.

Watch the video here:

Some of the users hinted at the fact that he did so because he is in the Indian Army and knows the value of the national flag, hence the respect.

Neeraj Chopra is a Subedar with 4 Rajputana Rifles in the Indian Army.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat said: “Neeraj Chopra has proven that when there is a will there is a way…We are confident you will continue to reach greater heights in the years to follow. Your achievement will inspire and motivate other sports persons to aspire and succeed to bring bigger laurels and a greater honour to our nation.”

Neeraj, 23, also became a part of a two-member exclusive group, joining retired shooter Abhinav Bindra in becoming the only second individual to win an Olympic gold. Abhinav Bindra won the yellow metal in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Neeraj was born on December 24, 1997, in a family of farmers from a small village of Khandar in Panipat.

His father Satish Kumar is a farmer and his mother Saroj Devi is a housewife. He grew up along with his two sisters, said an Army official.