'You are what you eat,' he says. So, what exactly is it that makes a champion? We give you a closer look at the diet of champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra.
What is one food that you can eat again and again during the week?
I can eat bread and omelet anytime of the week. I probably eat it more often than anything.
One dish you love to cook for yourself?
I can cook a lot of dishes but I think the one I make best is salted rice (spicy rice). I think people also call it Veg Biryani. I think I am very good at making it.
What is the typical meal for you on match days during tournaments?
On match days, I don't like to eat anything too fatty. I like to eat things like salad or fruits. I also like to eat things like grilled chicken breast and eggs.
What's your favorite country to eat out when you're traveling for tournaments?
Right now, I am used to travel, so no matter which country I visit, I usually find something that I enjoy eating. When I first moved out of India, I used to look around in Indian restaurants to find something to eat but now there is nothing like it. Now I guess taste is something you get used to. I'll eat whatever I get.
If you could offer one Indian special dish to players from other countries, what would it be and why?
Most of the foreign players prefer non-vegetarian food so if I want to introduce them to something, I will make chicken curry or butter chicken. It's quite tasty but I try to make it a little less spicy because it's not something they're used to.
If you could reward yourself with a cheat meal after a win, what would that be?
If I want to cheat after winning, I'll usually eat something sweet. I limit the amount of sweets I eat in general, so when I do get a chance to cheat, I'll usually eat lots of sweets. I don't care what kind of dessert they are. What I really like is the fresh homemade churma (ground bread with sugar and ghee). There's a lot of ghee and sugar in it, so it's something we can't eat during training, so it's something I really enjoy.
What is one new item you have added to your diet in recent times and why?
I have included salmon fish in my diet. It is supposed to be good for you. I recently started eating it. If I have to eat non-vegetarian food, I would like to eat some grilled salmon. To recover, I have a lot of fresh fruit juice. It cannot be packaged. I will usually drink a few glasses of fresh juice after my workout.
What kind of fast food is okay to eat as a professional athlete?
I think there is no harm in eating gol gappas. It is mostly water and most of your stomach is filled with water. Papdi is very big but the quantity of flour is very less. It's mostly water that's going inside you. There is a small amount of spice but that is another matter. If we talk about gol gappas, then the amount of flour in one or two rotis is as much as flour. Even if you think you're eating a lot, you're mostly filling yourself up with water. Of course, I wouldn't suggest that you eat them daily, but I think it's okay for an athlete to have a few gol gappas at a time.