Brett Lee's humble response to Neeraj Chopra's Javelin shoutout: Nowhere close
Former Australian pacer Brett Lee had a humble response after India's double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra suggested that Lee could have been a successful javelin thrower. The conversation came to light ahead of the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 when Neeraj, fresh off his back-to-back wins at the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike, was asked which cricketer he believed might have excelled in the sport of javelin.advertisementNeeraj named Lee, recognising the Australian's athleticism, power, and explosive energy from his cricketing days. However, in a lighthearted response, Lee took to his social media, sharing an article from India Today, and downplayed the compliment.I did throw the javelin back at my schooling days, but nowhere near what Neeraj does & continues to do.Very tough on the elbow. I have however admired what this fine athlete can do and wish him well https://t.co/fbbpKzd4bj— @BrettLee_58 (@BrettLee_58) June 30, 2025'I did throw the javelin back at my schooling days, but nowhere near what Neeraj does & continues to do so...Very tough on the elbow. I have, however, admired what this fine athlete can do and wish him well," Lee shared.
Neeraj also shared some fun thoughts in the interview, mentioning how he would love to try javelin throwing with India's premier pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. With a grin, Neeraj mused about the intriguing idea of seeing Bumrah's precision in a new light. The Olympic champion also cheekily admitted his wish to have the "superpowers" of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who is known for his calm and mastery under pressure.advertisementWith the Javelin star's his eyes set firmly on the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, which begins on July 5, Neeraj continues to push the boundaries of his potential. Neeraj's performances in the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike solidified his place as a global icon in athletics, but he remains grounded as he continues to strive for excellence, and yet another mark of him going beyond the 90 ,eter mark.- Ends
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
42 minutes ago
- Hans India
Dhoni seeks trademark for sobriquet 'Captain Cool'
New Delhi: Former Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has filed a trademark application for the phrase 'CAPTAIN COOL', a sobriquet widely associated with his calm on-field demeanour. According to the Trade Marks Registry portal, the application's status is 'accepted and advertised'. It was published in the official trademark journal on June 16. The application was filed on June 5. The proposed trademark is registered under the category for sports training, providing sports training facilities, sports coaching and services. No comments could immediately be obtained from Dhoni. Interestingly, another company, Prabha Skill Sports (OPC) Pvt Ltd, had earlier filed a similar application for the phrase. However, that application's status is showing as 'rectification filed'. Earlier this month, Dhoni was inducted into the ICC's Hall of Fame for the year 2025 along with seven cricketers, including Australian great Matthew Hayden and South Africa's Hashim Amla. The ICC hailed Dhoni as a player who excelled not just in numbers but also in "extraordinary consistency, fitness and longevity". "Celebrated for his calm under pressure and unmatched tactical nous, but also a trailblazer in the shorter formats, MS Dhoni's legacy as one of the game's greatest finishers, leaders and wicketkeepers has been honoured with his induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame," the ICC statement had said.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Brett Lee delivers gold-standard response to Neeraj Chopra's javelin nod: 'Nowhere close'
Jul 01, 2025 07:07 AM IST Australia cricket legend Brett Lee, on Monday, was classy, gracious and humble in responding to India's double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra's recent statement about him on javelin throw. Lee's remark came amid Chopra's return to the country for the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 after back-to-back wins at the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike. Brett Lee reacted to Neeraj Chopra's 'javelin' remark In a recent interview with official broadcasters of the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, JioStar, the Indian athlete was asked which cricketer he reckoned would have made it big in javelin throw and Chopra picked former Australia fast bowler Lee. "I have heard that Brett Lee was a javelin thrower. I think he could throw the javelin well, especially when he was in his peak years," he said. Taking to social media on Monday, Lee responded to Chopra's remark, admitting that the javelin story was true — he had tried his hand at the sport during his school days. However, he added that he was never anywhere near Chopra's level. Lee also noted how tough javelin was on the elbow before wishing the Olympic champion the best for his upcoming events. 'I did throw the javelin back at my schooling days, but nowhere near what Neeraj does & continues to do. Very tough on the elbow. I have however admired what this fine athlete can do and wish him well,' he tweeted. Screengrab of Brett Lee's tweet The Neeraj Chopra Classic, which begins on July 5, will be India's first-ever international javelin competition. It was originally scheduled for May 24 but was postponed due to military tensions between India and Pakistan. The venue has also been relocated from Panchkula to Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru due to lighting limitations at the original venue that affected live telecast capabilities. Organised by Chopra in collaboration with JSW Sports and sanctioned by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the event will feature a world-class field comprising seven top international throwers and five Indian athletes, including Chopra himself.
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
Neeraj learning ‘concept of flow', wants Tendulkar's ‘superpower' to handle challenges
Neeraj Chopra says he is "slowly understanding the concept of flow" after his celebrated coach Jan Zelezny advised him to run like an 18-year-old "without any tension" before launching his javelin. Also Read | Neeraj Chopra emerges winner at Golden Spike meet, joins coach Zelezny among title winners The 27-year-old Chopra, a double Olympic medallist, also said he would want to have cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's "superpower" to help him handle challenges with a calm mindset. He said the best advice he has received on and off the field was from Czech legend Zelezny, who also holds the world record in javelin with a throw of 98.48m. "Whenever I throw, I stay very energetic, but he (Zelezny) tells me I need to run in a flow. It shouldn't feel tight — I should run like an 18-year-old kid without any tension. I'm slowly understanding the concept of flow," Chopra told Star Sports and JioHotstar. "I think that in any sport, flow is very important. For example, Roger Federer — he played with such grace and rhythm that it never seemed like he was putting in too much effort. I'm trying to bring that into my training." Asked which cricketer's superpower he would like to have for throwing his javelin, Chopra said, "Sachin Tendulkar. He represented our country so well for so many years and made so many records for us. The way he faced challenges from many great bowlers and still performed exceptionally." "I would want that superpower and try to do the same. It would help me handle challenges that come my way with a calm mindset,' said Chopra who is hosting NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event. The world champion Indian, who joined the 90m club headed by Zelezny at the Doha Diamond League in May, said the legendary MS Dhoni's 'Helicopter Shot' resembles a javelin throw in terms of power and technique. Asked which cricketer he thinks would be able to throw the javelin, Chopra said, "I have heard that Brett Lee was a javelin thrower. I think he could throw the javelin well, especially when he was in his peak years. "I would like to try javelin with Jasprit Bumrah too and hope he teaches me some bowling skills. While bowling and javelin are both throws, they are very different. I would like to learn from Bumrah.' Asked whether he's superstitious, Chopra said, "I try to stay calm on the day of my event. I don't think too much about it. I just focus on giving my 100%. I try to stay relaxed, eat good food, and rest well.' After throwing 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League for a second place finish on May 16, Chopra won the Paris DL title with an effort of 88.16m. He then won the Golden Spike Ostrava title with a throw of 85.29m on June 24.
