Neeraj Chopra recently shared a tweet while promoting the auctioning of the javelin he had used to win the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics earlier this year. 

Stand a chance to make my Olympic javelin yours, at the https://t.co/XCT5G6GNBf auction which will take place until Oct 7.

Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Namami Gange initiative. pic.twitter.com/mdWZA72VJ1

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) October 5, 2021

“Stand a chance to make my Olympic javelin yours, at the http://pmmementos.gov.in auction which will take place until Oct 7. Proceeds from the auction will go towards the Namami Gange initiative,” he wrote in the post on the micro-blogging website.

With the deadline to bid for the item being October 7, 2021, 5 PM IST, the highest bid is already sitting at Rs 1,00,00,500 and more and more people are offering their bids to have possession of the priceless javelin.

According to Chopra’s tweet, all the proceeds that come from the auction will go towards the Namami Gange Programme, an initiative started by the Government of India in 2014, with the “twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.” The initial budget outlay for this project was Rs 20,000 Cr according to NMCG.

However, the Olympic gold medallist’s decision to auction off his memorable javelin did not sit well with some of his fans, even though it is for a good cause. Some felt that Chopra is wrong in giving away that one true thing that not only made him a world champion but also brought him seemingly limitless fame and global recognition. Others simply do not believe in the Namami Gange initiative.

Bhai ji it's your memories for the lifetime with this javelin, please don't sell it in auction...
This money will not go in namami gange, it will go in the pockets of corrupt politicians in power now..please keep it with you bro
Jai haryanavi jai hind

— Ashish Dahiya (@ashishD530) October 6, 2021

It's a good initiative .
But Ye paise Khiladi pe kharch karte to jyda acha tha.
Bahut jagah stadium nahi hai junior players kitne hai jinhe financial problems rahti hai us par kharch karte to bahut acha hota.
वैसे सरकार की उपलब्धि गिनाने के काम आएंगे ।

— Er. Sweta rani (@Sahipatel4) October 5, 2021

Don't auction it
Rather save it with yourself and motivate the future athletes.
Sarkar ka toh kaam hee hai sb bechna aur ho kya rha inse

— Ankit Choudhary (@AKChoudharyyyy) October 5, 2021

Donate it to National Sports Museum, where all previous sports related stuff have been preserved.

More than money, Namami Gange project requires intent.

— Yogesh Kumar ਯੋਗੇਸ਼ ਕੁਮਾਰ (@igoy_k) October 6, 2021

I appreciate the spend on #NamamiGange initiative and also pro @narendramodi but the question arises that why #Ganga is not cleaned yet despite of spending billions. Where is accountability or plan or it’s adhoc. Sorry but I have to express the reality @Pvsindhu1 @mirabai_chanu https://t.co/c3UaBpgUn1

— ManishMadbaiyaUSA (@ManishMadbaiya5) October 6, 2021

However, there were also those who felt that it was a great step that Chopra had taken towards protecting the Ganges river and that auctioning his javelin for a cause as big as this will only bring his fans closer to him.

I think it's good initiative taken by d Govt of India .v known Ganga as MaaGanga,it's holy water .it's every1's responsibility dat v should keep clean rivers and surroundings 2.hope fr the best bid for NamamiGange!it's also supported by Shri.Uma Bharati. pic.twitter.com/8dMKz568Yy

— Devyani kubade (@devyani_kubade) October 5, 2021

You are a true inspiration for the young of this country!

— Akshay Gupta (@GuyWithYogaMat) October 6, 2021

Sir it's a great initiative by our respected pm......u r great

— Kiran Tiwari (@KiranTiwari05) October 5, 2021

The auction also features the javelin used by Sumit Antil to bag the gold medal at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, the badminton racket used by shuttler PV Sindhu to win the bronze medal, a hockey stick signed by the members of the Indian hockey team that won the bronze medal. Other sports equipment such as Bhavani Devi’s fence is also up for grabs. 

The last time such an auction took place was in 2019. In that auction, the government raised over Rs 15.13 crore.

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